A late June look at Box-Toppers All-Star teams, led by Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw

Here are Box-Toppers points leaders by position and by league for the current season (2016) and for this season and last season (2015-16) as of June 23. The top three outfielders and top four starting pitchers (SP) in each league over both time periods are shown. Also shown is closing pitcher (CP) with the most Box-Toppers points in each league over both time periods.  

2016 leaders 2015-16 leaders
Pos AL players Team BTP AL players Team BTP
1B Lee, Dae-Ho 3627 sea al 6.7 Davis, Chris 2478 bal al 16.5
2B Altuve, Jose 3007 hou al 6.0 Altuve, Jose 3007 hou al 13.0
SS Machado, Manny 3087 bal al 8.7 Machado, Manny 3087 bal al 16.2
3B Donaldson, Josh 3144 tor al 7.2 Donaldson, Josh 3144 tor al 17.1
CA Martin, Russell 2202 tor al 6.0 Martin, Russell 2202 tor al 11.0
OF Cain, Lorenzo 3171 kc al 6.5 Trout, Mike 2949 ana al 17.5
OF Trout, Mike 2949 ana al 5.5 Cain, Lorenzo 3171 kc al 14.7
OF Trumbo, Mark 2851 bal al 5.2 Upton, Justin 2411 det al 12.0
DH Martinez, Victor 1695 det al 5.0 Encarnacion, Edwin 2098 tor al 14.4
SP Kluber, Corey 3200 cle al 9.8 Sale, Chris 2806 chi al 28.5
SP Sale, Chris 2806 chi al 9.7 Price, David 2593 bos al 27.8
SP Hamels, Cole 2135 tex al 9.4 Hamels, Cole 2135 tex al 24.8
SP Salazar, Danny 3223 cle al 8.8 Keuchel, Dallas 3050 hou al 24.4
CP Colome, Alex 3189 tb al 4.0 Robertson, David 2774 chi al 11.0
NL players Team BTP NL players Team BTP
1B Holliday, Matt 1836 stl nl 6.0 Goldschmidt, Paul 2935 ari nl 11.7
2B Murphy, Daniel 2589 dc nl 5.0 LeMahieu, DJ 3091 col nl 11.5
SS Diaz, Aledmys 3612 stl nl 4.5 Galvis, Freddy 3202 phi nl 7.0
3B Suarez, Eugenio 3355 cin nl 7.0 Arenado, Nolan 3306 col nl 13.0
CA Realmuto, J.T. 3491 fla nl 2.5 Realmuto, J.T. 3491 fla nl 7.5
OF Cespedes, Yoenis 3008 nym nl 6.0 Cespedes, Yoenis 3008 nym nl 16.9
OF Holliday, Matt 1836 stl nl 6.0 Gonzalez, Carlos 2460 col nl 14.0
OF Bruce, Jay 2453 cin nl 5.0 Bryant, Kris 3465 chi nl 12.0
SP Kershaw, Clayton 2494 lad nl 20.0 Kershaw, Clayton 2494 lad nl 45.7
SP Cueto, Johnny 2400 sf nl 11.7 Arrieta, Jake 2738 chi nl 39.8
SP Fernandez, Jose 3147 fla nl 11.7 Scherzer, Max 2588 dc nl 31.0
SP Arrieta, Jake 2738 chi nl 10.7 Greinke, Zack 1871 ari nl 30.4
CP Familia, Jeurys 3446 nym nl 3.0 Familia, Jeurys 3446 nym nl 11.0
What are those numbers after players' names?

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is top player in Box-Toppers All-Star teams.

Kershaw leads all players in Box-Toppers points for the 2016 season with 20.0. He also leads all players over the combined 2015 and 2016 seasons with 45.7 Box-Toppers points. 

The chart shows the leaders in Box-Toppers points by position over two different time periods—the 2016 season and the combined 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Why two time periods? It could be argued that the 2016 season so far is not a large enough sample size to determine a true All-Star. While it may determine who is currently on a hot streak, it may not demonstrate lasting All-Star value the way viewing a player’s performance over a longer period can. So that’s why a player’s performance over 2015 and 2016 is also examined.

The National League team has 13 positions—the customary five infield spots, three for outfield, four for starting pitchers plus one spot for closing pitcher. The American League team has 14 spots with the addition of the designated hitter.

There are eight AL players who occupy All-Star spots at his position for both 2016 and 2015-16:

  • 2B—Jose Altuve, Astros
  • SS—Manny Machado, Orioles
  • 3B—Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
  • CA—Russell Martin, Blue Jays
  • OF—Mike Trout, Angels and Lorenzo Cain, Royals
  • SP—Chris Sale, White Sox and Cole Hamels, Rangers

There are five NL players who who occupy All-Star spots at his position for both 2016 and 2015-16:

  • CA—J.T. Realmuto, Marlins
  • OF—Yoenis Cespedes, Mets
  • SP—Kershaw and Jake Arrieta, Cubs
  • CP—Jeurys Familia, Mets

Among the changes from last week’s All-Star teams on the American League team for the 2016 season:

  • OF—Mark Trumbo, Orioles (5.2) displaces Mookie Betts, Red Sox (4.7).
  • SP—Cole Hamels, Rangers (9.4) displaces Rich Hill, Athletics (8.4).

Among the changes from last week’s All-Star teams on the National League team for the 2016 season:

  • 1B—Matt Holliday, Cardinals (6.0) displaces Chris Carter, Brewers (5.0).
  • 2B—Daniel Murphy, Nationals (5.0) displaces DJ LeMahieu, Rockies (4.5).
  • SS—Aledmys Diaz, Cardinals (4.5) displaces Corey Seager, Dodgers (3.0).
  • CA—J.T. Realmuto, Marlins (2.5) displaces Buster Posey, Giants (2.5).
  • OF—Jay Bruce, Reds (5.0) displaces Michael Conforto, Mets (5.0).
  • SP—Jake Arrieta, Cubs (10.7) displaces Max Scherzer, Nationals (10.0).
  • CP—Jeurys Familia, Mets (3.0) displaces Kevin Siegrist, Cardinals (3.0).

Among the changes from last week’s All-Star teams on the American League team for the combined 2015-16 seasons:

  • OF—Justin Upton, Tigers (12.0) displaces Jackie Bradley Jr. (12.0).

Among the changes from last week’s All-Star teams on the National League team for the combined 2015-16 seasons:

  • SS—Freddy Galvis, Phillies (7.0) displaces Adeiny Hechavarria (5.5).
  • CA—J.T. Realmuto, Marlins (7.5) displaces Buster Posey, Giants (6.5).

About Box-Toppers—Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

Last week’s All-Star teams