A look at determining Box-Toppers midseason 2015 All-Star teams

Three ways of looking at Box-Toppers points leaders by position:

In the left column are leaders by Box-Toppers points earned during 2015. In the middle column are leaders based on Box-Toppers points earned in both 2014 and 2015. And the right column shows leaders by Box-Toppers points earned from 2010 through 2015. (What are those numbers after player names?)


 2015 2014-15 2010-15
AL PLAYER TEAM BTP PLAYER TEAM BTP PLAYER TEAM BTP
1B Encarnacion, Edwin 2098 tor al 5.2 Abreu, Jose 3308 chi al 17.5 Cabrera, Miguel 1776 det al 60.8
2B Dozier, Brian 3219 min al 3.7 Dozier, Brian 3219 min al 10.2 Cano, Robinson 2092 sea al 35
SS Escobar, Alcides 2663 kc al 3.5 Escobar, Alcides 2663 kc al 8.5 Ramirez, Hanley 2119 bos al 28.7
3B Donaldson, Josh 3144 tor al 5.2 Donaldson, Josh 3144 tor al 15.7 Beltre, Adrian 1141 tex al 29.6
C Chirinos, Robinson 2924 tex al 3.5 McCann, Brian 2179 nyy al 8.5 McCann, Brian 2179 nyy al 28.7
OF Hunter, Torii 1190 min al 6.5 Jones, Adam 2347 bal al 15 Bautista, Jose 2169 tor al 45.4
OF Rasmus, Colby 2608 hou al 6 Trout, Mike 2949 ana al 14 Jones, Adam 2347 bal al 37.5
OF Cespedes, Yoenis 3008 det al 5.7 Cespedes, Yoenis 3008 det al 13.7 Hamilton, Josh 2332 tex al 37.2
DH Fielder, Prince 2029 tex al 7.5 Encarnacion, Edwin 2098 tor al 14.7 Pujols, Albert 1438 ana al 49.4
SP Hernandez, Felix 2064 sea al 13.4 Hernandez, Felix 2064 sea al 34.2 Hernandez, Felix 2064 sea al 99.8
SP Archer, Chris 3194 tb al 12 Kluber, Corey 3200 cle al 30.8 Price, David 2593 det al 78.8
SP Sale, Chris 2806 chi al 11.4 Price, David 2593 det al 30.2 Weaver, Jered 2178 ana al 78
SP Price, David 2593 det al 11.1 Sale, Chris 2806 chi al 28.8 Verlander, Justin 2112 det al 77
MR Betances, Dellin 3333 nyy al 3 Davis, Wade 2681 kc al 9 Capuano, Chris 1779 nyy al 25.4
CP Britton, Zachary 2835 bal al 7.7 Britton, Zachary 2835 bal al 13.7 Holland, Greg 2906 kc al 29
NL PLAYER TEAM BTP PLAYER TEAM BTP PLAYER TEAM BTP
1B Goldschmidt, Paul 2935 ari nl 6.2 Gonzalez, Adrian 2193 lad nl 11.2 Gonzalez, Adrian 2193 lad nl 38.7
2B Panik, Joe 3401 sf nl 4 Murphy, Daniel 2589 nym nl 8.5 Uggla, Dan 2158 dc nl 29
SS Hechavarria, Adeiny 3445 fla nl 4.5 Tulowitzki, Troy 2308 col nl 15.1 Tulowitzki, Troy 2308 col nl 43.3
3B Frazier, Todd 2929 cin nl 7.2 Frazier, Todd 2929 cin nl 10.7 Zimmerman, Ryan 2180 dc nl 29.7
C Montero, Miguel 2304 chi nl 4 Posey, Buster 2745 sf nl 11.5 Posey, Buster 2745 sf nl 28.5
OF Upton, Justin 2411 sd nl 7 Upton, Justin 2411 sd nl 15.2 Braun, Ryan J. 2300 mil nl 51
OF Harper, Bryce 3011 dc nl 6.5 Stanton, Giancarlo 2737 fla nl 12.2 Gonzalez, Carlos 2460 col nl 41.2
OF Stanton, Giancarlo 2737 fla nl 5.5 McCutchen, Andrew 2637 pit nl 11.5 McCutchen, Andrew 2637 pit nl 38.4
SP Scherzer, Max 2588 dc nl 14 Kershaw, Clayton 2494 lad nl 39.5 Kershaw, Clayton 2494 lad nl 124.2
SP Cole, Gerrit 3232 pit nl 12 Scherzer, Max 2588 dc nl 36.1 Scherzer, Max 2588 dc nl 92
SP deGrom, Jacob 3343 nym nl 11.4 Cueto, Johnny 2400 cin nl 30.2 Greinke, Zack 1871 lad nl 82.1
SP Martinez, Carlos 3371 stl nl 10.7 Bumgarner, Madison 2753 sf nl 28.6 Bumgarner, Madison 2753 sf nl 81.7
MR Casilla, Santiago 2301 sf nl 2 Dunn, Michael 2867 fla nl 6 Romo, Sergio 2539 sf nl 17
CP Chapman, Aroldis 2826 cin nl 5 Kimbrel, Craig 2825 sd nl 14 Kimbrel, Craig 2825 sd nl 47.7

With All-Star Game starters to be announced this weekend, here is a look at Box-Toppers points leaders by position—viewed from three different perspectives:

• Leaders by position based on Box-Toppers points earned in 2015.

• Leaders by position based on Box-Toppers points earned in both 2014 and 2015.

• Leaders by position based on Box-Toppers points earned from 2010 through 2015.

The leaders include one player from each infield position, the top three outfielders, the top four starting pitchers and the top middle relief pitcher and closing pitcher. The American League team also includes the leader among designated hitters.

In the chart in which players are listed, you’ll see most positions have different leaders depending on how you measure them.

For example, at first base in the American League, if you measure your All-Star based solely on their performance this season, the leader is Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays with 5.2 Box-Toppers points. However, if you measure the All-Star based on a larger sample size that includes both the 2014 and 2015 seasons, the leader is Jose Abreu of the White Sox. But if you include an even larger sample size that includes all Box-Toppers points earned from 2010 to the present, then the leader is Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers with 60.8 Box-Toppers points.

There are only three players who are among the leaders in all three time spans:

• Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez leads AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points in 2015 (13.4), 2014-15 (34.2) and 2010-15 (99.8).

• Tigers pitcher David Price is among the top four AL pitchers: In 2015 (11.1), 2014-15 (30.2) and 2010-15 (78.8)

• Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is among the top four National League pitchers: In 2015 (14.0), in 2014-15 (36.1) and in 2010-15 (92).

It is difficult to know what fans and managers look for in an All-Star player and often one single criteria to determine All-Stars just doesn’t exist. Sometimes we are hot to anoint the breakout star who has played less than half a season as an All-Star, even though they may not have yet proved their worth over the long haul. And sometimes we want to honor the veteran player who has put up great career numbers and has enormous name recognition, but hasn’t necessarily been the top player at his position for a few seasons. This chart gives a way to take all those  perspectives into consideration.

Based on the charts, here is a single All-Star team that “seems right” to me:

American League

1B: Jose Abreu, White Sox (leads position in Box-Toppers points, ’14-’15).

2B: Brian Dozier, Twins (leads position in both 2015 and ’14-’15).

SS: Alcides Escobar, Royals (leads position in both 2015 and ’14-’15).

3B: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays (leads position in both 2015 and ’14-’15).

C: Brian McCann, Yankees (leads position in both ’14-’15 and ’10-’15).

OF: Adam Jones, Orioles (among top three at position in both ’14-’15 and ’10-’15); Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers (among top three at position in both 2015 and ’14-’15); Mike Trout, Angels (ranked second at position in ’14-’15).

DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays (leads position in Box-Toppers points, ’14-’15). (He also leads AL 1B in Box-Toppers points for 2015.)

SP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners (leads position in 2015, ’14-’15 and ’10-’15); David Price, Tigers (among top four at position in 2015, ’14-’15 and ’10-’15); Chris Sale, White Sox (among top four at position in 2015, ’14-’15); Corey Kluber, Indians (ranked second at position in ’14-’15).

MR: Wade Davis, Royals (leads position in ’14-’15).

CP: Zach Britton, Orioles (leads position in both 2015 and ’14-’15).

National League

1B: Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers (leads position in both ’14-’15 and ’10-’15).

2B: Daniel Murphy, Mets (leads position in ’14-’15).

SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies (leads position in both ’14-’15 and ’10-’15).

3B: Todd Frazier, Reds (leads position in both 2015 and ’14-’15).

C: Buster Posey, Giants (leads position in both ’14-’15 and ’10-’15).

OF: Justin Upton, Padres (leads position in both 2015 and ’14-’15); Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins (among top three at position in both 2015 and ’14-’15); Andrew McCutchen, Pirates (among top three at position in both ’14-’15 and ’10-’15).

SP: Max Scherzer, Nationals (among top four at position in 2015, ’14-’15 and ’10-’15); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (leads position in both ’14-’15 and ’10-’15); Madison Bumgarner, Giants (among top four at position in ’14-’15 and ’10-’15); Johnny Cueto, Reds (ranked third at position in ’14-’15).

MR: Michael Dunn, Marlins (leads position in ’14-’15).

CP: Craig Kimbrel, Padres (leads position in both ’14-’15 and ’10-’15).