Braves, Astros, Mariners among leaders in Box-Toppers offseason team rankings

Shawn Plank January 18, 2024

The Atlanta Braves are Box-Toppers’ top-ranked team going into 2024, with a roster mostly intact from 2023 when they had baseball’s best record.

Meanwhile, the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are Box-Toppers’ top two American League teams, with the Mariners having one of the best offseason improvements of any team so far. And also, while the Los Angeles Dodgers have made big offseason splashes adding Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Teoscar Hernandez, their offseason ranking has actually fallen from third place last season to fourth place now.

A pitchers vs. batters breakdown of each team’s Box-Toppers point total for 2023

Shawn Plank January 5, 2024

The World Series champion Texas Rangers, leaders among all teams in Box-Toppers points in 2023, also led all teams in points earned by pitchers. The Los Angeles Dodgers, meanwhile, which finished third overall among all teams, had the most points won by batters in 2023.

Here is a look at how pitchers and batters contributed to each teams’ Box-Toppers point totals in 2023, including the share of total points won by pitchers and batters on each team.

How 2023 Silver Sluggers winners fared in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank December 27, 2023

Six of the 20 batters winning Silver Slugger Awards in 2023 were also among the leaders at their positions in 2023 Box-Toppers point totals.

The awards are given to the top batter in each position in both leagues, voted on by Major League Baseball coaches and managers. Box-Toppers, analyzing traditional box scores, tracks which player most helps his team win the most games, awarding points for the top player in each game.

Box-Toppers 2023 year-end All-Star teams

Shawn Plank November 29, 2023

The Box-Toppers All-Star teams for the 2023 regular season are led by overall Box-Toppers points leader, Braves pitcher Spencer Strider.

The American League and National League All-Star teams are composed of the players with the highest Box-Toppers point totals by position in each league. In addition to nine batters in each league are the top four starting pitchers in each league and the top closing pitcher.

Diamondbacks’ Thomas, Astros’ Pressly top players in Friday’s LCS playoff games

Shawn Plank October 21, 2023

Alek Thomas of the Diamondbacks is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Friday’s National League Championship Series Game 4.

Also Friday, Astros closing pitcher Ryan Pressly is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in the American League Championship Series Game 5.

ALCS Preview: Astros favored over higher-ranked Rangers due to Texas’ injury woes

Shawn Plank October 14, 2023

Though the Texas Rangers finished first overall in Box-Toppers team rankings for 2023, Box-Toppers favors the Houston Astros to beat them in the American League Championship Series.

Box-Toppers’ AL Division Series preview: Rangers vs. Orioles, Twins vs. Astros

Shawn Plank October 6, 2023

Both American League Division Series begin Saturday.

The Texas Rangers face the Baltimore Orioles in one best-of-five game series and the Minnesota Twins face the Houston Astros in the other. The top two AL seeds, the Orioles (first) and the Astros (second) received byes from the first round of playoffs and face the winners of the best-of-three Wild Card series played this week.

Brewers’ Woodruff tops players for Tuesday, Sept. 5; Bassitt, Luzardo rise in top 10

Shawn Plank September 6, 2023

Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Tuesday, two players rise in Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 list after both earned Player of the Game honors: Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt rises to third place and Marlins pitcher Jesus Luzardo rises to fourth place.

Giants’ Harrison tops players for Monday, Aug. 28; Braves’ Acuña rises to lead NL batters

Shawn Plank August 29, 2023

Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Monday, Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Braves rises to first place among National League batters in 2023 Box-Toppers points after earning NL Batter of the Day honors.

Phillies’ Lorenzen tops players for Wednesday, Aug. 9 with no-hitter; Ohtani bolsters lead

Shawn Plank August 10, 2023

Phillies pitcher Michael Lorenzen is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, pitching a no-hitter.

Also Wednesday, Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani maintains his lead in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman rises to second in player rankings after earning American League Player of the Day honors.

Seven Box-Toppers points leaders among players named to 2022 All-MLB First Team

Shawn Plank December 6, 2022

Seven Box-Toppers points leaders are among players selected for 2022’s 16-member “All-MLB” team announced Tuesday.

One other Box-Toppers leader was chosen for the “All-MLB” Second Team.

How 2022 Silver Sluggers winners fared in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank November 11, 2022

Seven of the 20 batters winning Silver Slugger Awards Thursday were also among the leaders at their positions in 2022 Box-Toppers point totals.

Yankees’ Aaron Judge, Box-Toppers’ top AL batter, wins 2022 Hank Aaron Award

Shawn Plank November 10, 2022

Aaron Judge of the Yankees, winner of the American League 2022 Hank Aaron Award given to the league’s best offensive performer, also led AL batters in Box-Toppers points.

Paul Goldschmidt of the Cardinals, who won the award in the National League, ranked seventh among NL batters in 2022 Box-Toppers points.

White Sox’ Dylan Cease tops Box-Toppers’ list of worthy, but unchosen All-Stars

Shawn Plank July 18, 2022

White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease is the most deserving player not selected to the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star teams.

A Box-Toppers look at All-Star starters, reserves and snubs.

Max Fried tops players as Braves win title over Astros in World Series Game 6

Shawn Plank November 3, 2021

Max Fried is Box-Toppers Player of the Game as the Atlanta Braves win the World Series title over the Houston Astros Tuesday.

The Braves beat the Astros 7-0 to win the best-of-seven game series, 4-2, their first World Series title since 1995.

Jorge Soler tops players in World Series Game 4 as Braves take 3-1 series lead over Astros

Shawn Plank October 31, 2021

Jorge Soler of the Braves is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Saturday’s World Series Game 4.

The Atlanta Braves win 3-2 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven game series over the Houston Astros.

Ian Anderson tops players in World Series Game 3, as Braves lead series over Astros, 2-1

Shawn Plank October 30, 2021

Braves starting pitcher Ian Anderson is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Friday’s World Series Game 3.

The Atlanta Braves win 2-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven game series over the Houston Astros.

Jose Urquidy tops players in World Series Game 2 as Astros even series, 1-1

Shawn Plank October 28, 2021

Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Wednesday’s World Series Game 2.

The Houston Astros win 7-2 to tie the best-of-seven game series with the Atlanta Braves at 1-1.

Reliever A.J. Minter tops players in World Series Game 1, as Braves defeat Astros

Shawn Plank October 27, 2021

Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Tuesday’s World Series Game 1.

The Atlanta Braves win 6-2 to take a 1-0 lead over the Houston Astros in the best-of-seven games series.

Braves hold Box-Toppers points edge over Astros in 2021 World Series

Shawn Plank October 26, 2021

The Atlanta Braves hold the Box-Toppers points advantages over the Houston Astros in the 2021 World Series.

The Braves accumulated more total Box-Toppers points during the season than the Astros, their likely starting lineup for the Fall Classic has more Box-Toppers points than the Astros and their starting batting lineup and probable top four starting pitchers also outdistance the Astros in points.