PHOENIX — It’s hard to imagine the Rockies without Todd Helton. Other players have moments — Matt Holliday with The Slide, Curtis Leskanic’s Leap, Ubaldo Jimenez’s no-hitter — but Helton owns the franchise’s standard of excellence.

He will turn 39 next month, his age and declining statistics reflected in the team’s decision Monday to sit him until the team comes back to town. Rather than fly Helton to Phoenix to be activated Tuesday and play Wednesday, the Rockies decided it was best for Helton, who has a sore right hip, to work out at Coors Field and rejoin the team Friday.

A decision such as that would have been unthinkable a few years ago. The Rockies without Helton are like peanut butter without jelly or the Broncos without Elway. Helton made his major-league debut in 1997, put together one of baseball’s all-time great seasons in 2000, endured the teeth-gnashing of Todd and the Toddlers and served as a mentor rather than a malcontent during tough times. His patience was rewarded with two playoff berths.

The lasting image of Helton will be his arms raised in 2007 as he caught the final out of the National League Championship Series, his unbridled joy defining an entire region. He could live forever in that snapshot.

The picture now is not pretty. He has fought pain and been unplugged. He is batting .235 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs. He has had two extra-base hits since June 9. His on-base percentage of .332 is nearly 100 points off his career average entering the season (.421).

He is not Willie Mays in a Mets uniform, but Helton has reached an uncomfortable stage of his career. Outside of two seasons sabotaged by injury in 2008 and 2010, he has been one of the Rockies’ best players. Now there’s a debate whether he should be a starter anymore, with the season lost and Tyler Colvin proving he’s worth an extended look over the final two months, which pushes Michael Cuddyer to first.

Helton could transition into Jason Giambi’s role if Giambi is traded. But I don’t see it. Helton has never been comfortable as a pinch hitter. He’s not wired that way. He wakes up ready to roll up his sleeves and hit until his hands are calloused. It’s what made him one of the best hitters of his time.

I get asked repeatedly if Helton is a Hall of Famer. It won’t be easy for him to make Cooperstown because of his home-road splits and the national bias against Coors Field. But seeing him every day, his value has always extended beyond the batter’s box. I have never seen a first baseman scoop more balls out of the dirt — creating freedom for infielders to make any throw at any time — or play the bunt as aggressively and effectively as does Helton.

For me, he belongs in Cooperstown. The question is, where do the Rockies go now? It would nice to see Helton get healthy and enjoying the final two months without worrying about his body betraying him.

Not sure that’s possible. Other than John Elway, few athletes go out on their terms reading from a Disney teleprompter.

Helton is no different. Another playoff berth in the final year of his contract next season is a longshot given the work ahead for the Rockies.

In absence of the perfect ending, there can be a series of memorable moments. Helton is the most intense hitter I’ve ever covered. His at-bats might as well be taken under oath given how seriously he takes them. He never gives away a swing, leading Curt Schilling and Tim Lincecum, among others, to say he’s the toughest hitter they’ve ever faced.

This is how I want Helton to go out, whether that’s this year or next. I want to see him standing in the batter’s box, eyes glaring at the pitcher, flicking off pitch after pitch before driving a double to left-center.

That is Todd Helton. And regardless of how the next two months or even next year plays out, that’s how I will always remember him.

Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1294, trenck@denverpost.com or twitter.com/troyrenck