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          New York Mets

          Reds writer: Hamilton ROY slipping away

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterSep 16, 2014, 10:40 AM ET
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          NEW YORK -- Even in Cincinnati, in-the-know people see Jacob deGrom overtaking Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

          lastname deGromlastname Hamilton Reds beat writer C. Trent Rosencrans writes in the Cincinnati Enquirer on Tuesday, a day after deGrom's 13-strikeout performance against the Marlins:

          We were talking in our pregame meeting with [Reds manager] Bryan Price last week about the Rookie of the Year Award, and someone said they'd bet ... any amount of money that Billy Hamilton would win. I should have taken that bet.

          Hamilton, at that time, was probably the favorite. I'm not so sure he is anymore.

          Rosencrans adds:

          Hamilton, like his team, has struggled in the second half. And the two are likely intertwined. After hitting .285/.319/.423 in 90 games in the first half, he's hit .214/.265/.276 in 55 games since the break.

          So far this month, Hamilton's hitting .156/.255/.200 has been caught stealing (2) as much as he's been successful stealing (2).

          Overall, deGrom is now 8-6 with a 2.68 ERA in 21 starts. Hamilton is hitting .258 with six homers and 48 RBIs in 543 at-bats. He has a .298 on-base percentage and 56 steals in 78 attempts.