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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Hellickson could win AL rookie of the year this afternoon

Posted Nov 14, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Nov 14, 2011 at 11:06 AM

ROGER MOONEY

Jeremy Hellickson is believed to be the leading candidate for the American League Rookie of the Year, which will be announced at 2 p.m. today.

If he wins, Hellickson will join Evan Longoria (2008) as the only players in team history to win the award, which is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America – two voters in each American League city.

Here are some reasons why Hellickson should win the award:

—Led all major league rookie pitchers in ERA (2.95), innings pitched (189), starts (29), quality starts (20) and opponents’ batting average (.210).

—His 2.95 ERA was eighth overall in the AL.

—His .210 opponents’ batting average was third lowest in the majors behind the Tigers Justin Verlander (.192) and the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw (.207).

—Since 1900 only five rookies who pitched enough innings to qualify for the ERA title finished with an ERA and opponents’ average as low as Hellickson’s.

—Was 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA in last five starts against AL East teams.

—Received one run or less of support while on the mound in nine of his 10 losses. The Rays were shutout in five of Hellickson’s starts.

—Averaged 19.6 outs per starts, the most by an AL rookie since Steve Sparks did that in 1995 with Milwaukee.

—Was one of three rookies in the past 35 seasons to beat the Red Sox twice at Fenway Park, joining Baltimore’s Rodrigo Lopez (three times in 2002) and Oakland’s Brett Anderson (twice in 2009).

—Pitched seven or more innings 14 times, the most among major league rookies.

—Pitched two complete games. The rest of the AL rookie pitchers combined to throw one.

—Was 4-1 with a 1.36 ERA in five starts in May when he was named the AL pitcher and rookie of the month.

—His post-All-Star Break ERA of 2.64 was third lowest among all AL starters.