Yankees top Box-Toppers 2020 preseason team rankings; champion Nationals rank 2nd

Shawn Plank March 9, 2020

The New York Yankees are the top-ranked team in Box-Toppers’ 2020 preseason rankings, rising from fifth place at the end of the 2019 season.

The 2019 World Series-champion Washington Nationals, ranked second at the end of 2019, maintain second place in the 2020 preseason rankings.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays made the biggest offseason improvement in players’ accumulated Box-Toppers points, while the Houston Astros—2019’s top-ranked team and American League champion—had the biggest decline.

ALCS Preview: Rocketing Astros face the rising, resilient, rehabilitating Yankees

Shawn Plank October 12, 2019

Do the New York Yankees even stand a chance facing the rocketing Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series?

Astros players accumulated by far the most Box-Toppers points of any team (158.1). The Yankees had 123.4 points, ranked fifth overall. The Astros top three pitchers are among Box-Toppers’ top-10 ranked players in 2019. Meanwhile, the Yankees top player, James Paxton (14.1 Box-Toppers points), ranks 19th overall.

Astros’ Gerrit Cole is 2019 Box-Toppers Player of the Year

Shawn Plank September 30, 2019

Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole is Box-Toppers Player of the Year for 2019, earning the fourth-most Box-Toppers points in a single season since tracking began in 1995.

Meanwhile, Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals leads among National League pitchers, Nelson Cruz of the Twins leads among AL batters and Marcell Ozuna of the Cardinals leads among NL batters.

Astros’ Gerrit Cole leads Box-Toppers season player rankings for fourth straight week

Shawn Plank September 20, 2019

Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole leads Box-Toppers weekly player rankings report for the fourth straight week.

Meanwhile, Nelson Cruz of the Twins regains the Box-Toppers points lead among American League batters and Marcell Ozuna of the Cardinals rises to lead National League batters in 2019 points. Plus, Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals continues to lead NL pitchers in Box-Toppers points.

Mets’ deGrom tops players for Saturday, Sept. 14; Astros’ Greinke rises to 8th in player rankings

Shawn Plank September 15, 2019

Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Saturday, Astros pitcher Zack Greinke rises to eighth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Astros’ Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole lead Box-Toppers player rankings

Shawn Plank August 23, 2019

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander maintains the lead in Box-Toppers weekly team rankings report for the 14th straight week.

However, teammate Gerrit Cole has caught up to Verlander this week in total Box-Toppers points for the season (20.8). But Verlander still ranks ahead on a tiebreaker because he has more 2018 Box-Toppers points—24.1 vs. 18.0.

Astros’ Verlander leads player rankings for 9th week, but four within 1.0 Box-Toppers point

Shawn Plank July 19, 2019

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander maintains the lead in Box-Toppers weekly team rankings report for the ninth straight week.

Meanwhile, Alex Bregman of the Astros rises to lead American League batters in Box-Toppers season player rankings this week, passing Brett Gardner of the Yankees, who led at the last player rankings report on July 7.

Red Sox’ Sale tops players for Thursday, July 18; Nationals’ Strasburg rises to 7th in player rankings

Shawn Plank July 19, 2019

Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Thursday, Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg rises to seventh place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after becoming the sixth pitcher this season to earn Player of the Game honors for batting. Strasburg is Thursday’s National League Player of the Day.

Plus, Alex Bregman of the Astros rises to lead American League batters in 2019 Box-Toppers points after earning AL Batter of the Day honors Thursday.

Royals’ Sparkman tops players for Tuesday, July 16; Pujols rises to 2nd in AL batter player rankings

Shawn Plank July 17, 2019

Royals pitcher Glenn Sparkman is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also, Albert Pujols of the Angels earns Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors for the second straight day Tuesday—and the third time in four days, rising to second place among American League batters in season player rankings.

Who has most Box-Toppers points on each team in 2019? A look at each club’s top pitcher & batter

Shawn Plank July 12, 2019

Twenty-five pitchers and five batters lead their teams in Box-Toppers points at the 2019 All-Star break.

The five batters who have the most points on their club at the All-Star break are Brett Gardner of the Yankees, Mike Trout of the Angels, Josh Bell of the Pirates, Marcell Ozuna of the Cardinals and Nolan Arenado of the Rockies.

Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman is Box-Toppers Player of the Game as AL wins 2019 All-Star Game

Shawn Plank July 10, 2019

Yankees closing pitcher Aroldis Chapman is Box-Toppers 2019 All-Star Game Player of the Game.

Chapman struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning, allowing no hits, no walks and earning the save, in the American League’s 4-3 win Tuesday over the National League.

Astros’ Verlander leads player rankings for 8th week, but challengers are closing in

Shawn Plank July 8, 2019

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander maintains the lead in Box-Toppers weekly team rankings report for the eighth straight week. But barely.

Meanwhile, there are new batting leaders in each league as Brett Gardner of the Yankees rises to lead American League batters and Josh Bell of the Pirates rises to lead National League batters. Josh Hader of the Brewers continues his lead among NL pitchers.

Diamondbacks’ Zack Greinke tops players for Friday, July 5, rises to 4th in player rankings

Shawn Plank July 6, 2019

Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to fourth place in season player rankings.

Also Friday, Brett Gardner of the Yankees rises to lead American League batters in 2019 Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors, passing previous leader Mike Trout of the Angels.

Indians’ Shane Bieber is Box-Toppers’ most deserving player not selected to 2019 All-Star Game

Shawn Plank July 5, 2019

Indians pitcher Shane Bieber is the most deserving player not selected to the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star teams.

Bieber has 11.1 Box-Toppers points in 2019, eighth among all players and fourth among American League pitchers. Other key players not chosen for the All-Star Game who rank among Box-Toppers top players this season include Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg, Marcell Ozuna of the Cardinals and Eloy Jimenez of the White Sox.

Astros’ Justin Verlander leads Box-Toppers season player rankings for seventh straight week

Shawn Plank June 28, 2019

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander maintains the lead in Box-Toppers weekly team rankings report for the seventh straight week.

Meanwhile, the leaders in the four main categories remain unchanged from last week: Verlander continues to lead American League pitchers, Brewers pitcher Josh Hader continues to lead National League pitchers, Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers continues to lead NL batters and Eloy Jimenez of the White Sox continues to lead AL batters.

A look at how 2019 All-Star finalists fare in Box-Toppers points and rankings

Shawn Plank June 24, 2019

There are nine players who lead their league’s positions in Box-Toppers points who are also among the finalists in the newfangled All-Star “general” election being held this week.

But there are eight players who lead their league’s position in Box-Toppers points who are not even listed among the top three finalists (top nine for outfielders) for their positions.

Astros’ Justin Verlander leads Box-Toppers season player rankings report for sixth straight week

Shawn Plank June 21, 2019

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander maintains the lead in Box-Toppers weekly team rankings report for the sixth straight week.

Also this week, there is a new leader in Box-Toppers points among American League batters as Eloy Jimenez of the White Sox passes previous leader Joey Gallo of the Rangers.

Marlins’ Jordan Yamamoto tops players for Tuesday, June 18; White Sox’ Jimenez rises to lead AL batters in Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank June 19, 2019

Marlins pitcher Jordan Yamamoto is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Tuesday, Eloy Jimenez of the White Sox rises to lead American League batters in 2019 Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors.

Indians’ Bauer tops players for Sunday, June 16; Hader, Ryu rise in player rankings top 10

Shawn Plank June 16, 2019

Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Sunday, Brewers pitcher Josh Hader rises to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings—increasing his lead among National League pitchers—after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu rises to fourth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings, becoming the sixth player in 2019 to reach 10 Box-Toppers points.

Rockies’ Trevor Story tops players for Friday, May 31; Tigers’ Goodrum tops AL players

Shawn Plank June 1, 2019

Trevor Story of the Rockies is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Story hit two homers and doubled in the 13-6 win over the Blue Jays. Story went 3-for-4, scoring four times and driving in seven runs.