Indians' Kluber, top player for Wednesday, July 30, rises in Box-Toppers top 10 player rankings, along with Scherzer, Greinke

Shawn Plank July 31, 2014

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber is Wednesday’s Player of the Day and rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers player rankings, while two other pitchers also improved their standing in the player ranking top 10 list.

Kluber pitched a complete game shutout, allowing three hits and striking out eight, in the 2-0 win over the Mariners. Kluber earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 13.4 for the season, rising to ninth place in Box-Toppers player rankings. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) He ranks fourth among American League pitchers.

Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer bolstered his second place standing in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Wednesday. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Scherzer (7IP 1R 6K W in the 7-2 win over the White Sox) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 18.1 for the season. He extends his lead among AL pitchers (second-place David Price of the Rays has 14.1 Box-Toppers points). He also matches his career-high season total of 18.1 Box-Toppers points from 2013 with two months to go in the season. Last year, his 18.1 points led all American League players.

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke, Wednesday’s National League Player of the Day, rises to sixth in Box-Toppers player rankings. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Greinke struck out 13 over eight innings, allowing one run, in the 3-2 win over the Braves. Greinke did not earn the win because after he left game, the Braves tied the game 2-2 in the ninth inning, before the Dodgers won in the bottom of the 10th. Greinke earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points, giving him 13.8 for the season. He is in fourth place among NL pitchers.

Jedd Gyorko of the Padres is NL Batter of the Day. Gyorko homered and doubled, going 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in four runs, in the 12-1 win over the Cardinals.

Dioner Navarro of the Blue Jays is AL Batter of the Day. Navarro went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs in the 6-1 win over the Red Sox.

Kluber receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Greinke receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Gyorko and Navarro each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Wednesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Wednesday, click here.

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. Players earn Box-Toppers points 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.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    730
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    14.0
    Indians
    Corey Kluber (W, 11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    8
  

    NL
    13.0
    `Dodgers
    Zack Greinke
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    13
  

    
    7.0
    Nationals
    Tanner Roark (W, 11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    7
  

    
    7.0
    Brewers
    Yovani Gallardo (W, 6-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    5.0
    Astros
    Dallas Keuchel (W, 10-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    4
    1
    1
    3
    5
  

    
    5.0
    Tigers
    Max Scherzer (W, 13-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Padres
    Jedd Gyorko   2B
    5
    2
    3
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Mets
    Daniel Murphy   2B
    5
    2
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    `Royals
    Wade Davis (H, 19)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    Dioner Navarro   C
    4
    0
    3
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Giants
    Gregor Blanco   CF
    3
    0
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Rangers
    Neftali Feliz (S, 3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    Orioles
    Adam Jones   CF
    4
    1
    2
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Dbacks
    Didi Gregorius   SS
    4
    1
    2
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Rockies
    Rob Scahill (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Rays' Cobb tops players for Tuesday, July 29, White Sox' Abreu takes Box-Toppers lead among all batters

Shawn Plank July 30, 2014

Rays pitcher Alex Cobb is Tuesday’s Player of the Day, while Jose Abreu of the White Sox takes the Box-Toppers points lead among all Major League batters.

Cobb struck out 12 and gave up one run and three hits over eight innings, in the 5-1 win over the Brewers.

Abreu, already the leader among American League batters, rose to become the top overall batter in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning AL Batter of the Day honors Tuesday. Abreu homered, doubled and went 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in four runs, in the 11-4 win over the Tigers. Abreu earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points, giving him 12.0 for the season, moving into 14th place overall in Box-Toppers player rankings. He passes previous overall batting leader, Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies (11.6), who still leads National League batters. And Abreu extends his lead among AL batters—second place Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers has 8.5 Box-Toppers points.

Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano is NL Player of the Day. Liriano struck out 11 over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 3-1 win over the Giants.

Matt Kemp of the Dodgers is NL Batter of the Day. Kemp hit two home runs and went 3-for-4, driving in four runs, in the 8-4 win over the Braves.

Cobb receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Liriano receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Abreu and Kemp each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Tuesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Tuesday, click here.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    729
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    13.0
    Rays
    Alex Cobb (W, 7-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    12
  

    NL
    11.0
    Pirates
    Francisco Liriano (W, 3-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    1
    11
  

    
    10.2
    Reds
    Mike Leake (W, 8-9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    5
    0
    0
    0
    8
  

    
    10.0
    Phillies
    Cole Hamels (W, 6-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    6
    0
    0
    0
    8
  

    
    10.0
    Twins
    Kyle Gibson (W, 9-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    BAT
    5.0
    White Sox
    Jose Abreu   1B
    4
    2
    3
    4
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Dodgers
    Matt Kemp   RF
    4
    2
    3
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Blue Jays
    Marcus Stroman (W, 7-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    2
    8
  

    
    4.0
    Yankees
    Mark Teixeira   1B
    2
    3
    1
    2
    3
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Marlins
    Henderson Alvarez (W, 8-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    4
    4
  

    
    3.0
    Athletics
    Evan Scribner (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Padres
    Joaquin Benoit (S, 3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Mariners
    Mike Zunino   C
    3
    2
    2
    1
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Cubs
    Emilio Bonifacio   3B, CF
    7
    2
    4
    2
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    Orioles
    Nick Markakis   RF
    6
    1
    2
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

Braves' Ervin Santana (8IP 0R 11K) tops players for Monday, July 28

Shawn Plank July 29, 2014

Braves pitcher Ervin Santana is Monday’s Player of the Day. Santana pitched eight shutout innings and struck out 11 in the 2-0 win over the Padres.

Santana earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 10.0 for the season. He is the 21st player this season with 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points and ranks 21st in Box-Toppers player rankings. He ranks ninth among National League pitchers.

Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey is American League Player of the Day. Dickey struck out 10 over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 14-1 win over the Red Sox.

Travis d’Arnaud of the Mets is NL Batter of the Day. d’Arnaud hit a three-run homer and two doubles, going 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, in the 7-1 win over the Phillies.

Chris Carter of the Astros is AL Batter of the Day. Carter hit a three-run homer and scored twice in the 7-3 win over the Athletics.

Notable: Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish rose to 12th place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Monday. Darvish (7IP 8K W in the 4-2 win over the Yankees) earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 12.4 for the season. He ranks eighth among AL pitchers.

Santana receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Dickey receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. d’Arnaud and Carter each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Monday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Monday, click here.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    728
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    14.0
    Braves
    Ervin Santana (W, 10-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    11
  

    AL
    11.0
    Blue Jays
    R.A. Dickey (W, 9-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    10
  

    
    8.0
    `Dbacks
    Chase Anderson
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    8
  

    
    7.0
    Pirates
    Vance Worley (W, 4-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    7.0
    Rays
    Jake Odorizzi (W, 7-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    0
    5
  

    
    5.0
    Cubs
    Tsuyoshi Wada (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Mets
    Travis d`Arnaud   C
    4
    2
    3
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Astros
    Chris Carter   DH
    3
    2
    1
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Marlins
    Mike Dunn (W, 8-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    Rangers
    Yu Darvish (W, 10-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    9
    2
    2
    1
    8
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Nationals' Fister tops players for Sunday, July 26; Cardinals' Wainwright rises to 4th in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank July 28, 2014

Nationals pitcher Doug Fister is Sunday’s Player of the Day, while Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright rises to fourth place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Fister pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and struck out five in the 4-2 win over the Reds.

Wainwright rose from fifth to fourth place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Sunday. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Wainwright (7IP 0R W in the 1-0 win over the Cubs) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 15.0 for the season. He ranks third among National League pitchers.

Carlos Santana of the Indians is American League Player of the Day. Santana homered twice, went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs, in the 10-3 win over the Royals.

Travis Snider of the Pirates is NL Batter of the Day. Snider hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the 7-5 win over the Rockies.

Fister receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Santana receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Snider receives 1.5 for being NL Batter of the Day.

All of Sunday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Sunday, click here.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    727
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    8.0
    Nationals
    Doug Fister (W, 10-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    AL
    6.0
    Indians
    Carlos Santana   1B
    3
    2
    3
    4
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.1
    Mets
    Jacob deGrom (W, 5-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    4
    0
    0
    2
    4
  

    
    4.0
    Orioles
    Zach Britton (S, 20)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    4.0
    Dodgers
    Kenley Jansen (S, 30)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.1
    `Angels
    Hector Santiago
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    3
    1
    1
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Pirates
    Travis Snider   PH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    `Twins
    Yohan Pino
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    2
    2
    1
    6
  

    
    3.0
    Red Sox
    Koji Uehara (S, 21)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    2.0
    Phillies
    Ryan Howard   1B
    3
    2
    1
    2
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Braves
    Tommy La Stella   2B
    2
    2
    1
    1
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Cardinals
    Adam Wainwright (W, 13-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    0
    0
    3
    3
  

    
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    Casey Janssen (S, 16)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    Athletics
    John Jaso   C
    5
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    Marlins
    Marcell Ozuna   CF
    4
    1
    2
    1
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Dodgers' Kershaw tops players for Saturday, July 26, becomes first to 20.0 Box-Toppers points this season

Shawn Plank July 27, 2014

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, Saturday’s Player of the Day, extends his lead in Box-Toppers player rankings, becoming the first this season to 20.0 Box-Toppers points, the fourth straight season he has reached that milestone.

Kershaw pitched a complete game shutout, allowing two hits and one walk and striking out seven, in the 5-0 win over the Giants. He earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 20.1 for the season and remains No. 1 in Box-Toppers player rankings. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.)

Last year, Kershaw led all players with 21.7 Box-Toppers points—he is only 1.6 points behind that with more than two months to go in the season. Here are his Box-Toppers point totals for the past four seasons:

• 2011: 26.1.

• 2012: 20.8

• 2013: 21.7

• 2014: 20.1 (so far)

Simply projecting his point total out to rest of the season based on what he’s done already, Kershaw would have at least 30.0 Box-Toppers points by the end of the season. But Kershaw was out with injury for about a month early in the season and so has achieved his impressive point total in an already shortened season.

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale, American League Player of the Day, rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers player rankings. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Sale pitched eight shutout innings and struck out 12 in the 7-0 win over the Twins. Sale earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 12.7 for the season. He ranks fifth among AL pitchers.

Kershaw and Sale had identical Box-Toppers game scores of 13.0, but Kershaw won overall Player of the Day on a tie-breaker—he had more innings pitched than Sale, nine vs. eight.

Martin Prado of the Diamondbacks is National League Batter of the Day. Prado homered, went 3-for-4 and drove in five runs, in the 10-6 win over the Phillies.

Dan Johnson of the Blue Jays is AL Batter of the Day. Johnson homered and went 2-for-5, driving in four runs, in the 6-4 win over the Yankees. This was the first time Johnson has earned Player of the Game honors and earned Box-Toppers points in nearly four years. He last earned Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors Sept. 15, 2010.

Notables: Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto rose to seventh place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Cueto (7IP 0R 9K W in the 1-0 win over the Nationals) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 13.7 for the season. He ranks fourth among NL pitchers.

Braves closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel becomes the 20th player this season with 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday. Kimbrel (1IP 0R 3K Sv in the 5-3 win over the Padres) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 10.0 for the season. He is in 19th place among all players and ranks eighth among NL pitchers.

Kershaw receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Sale receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Prado and Johnson each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Saturday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Saturday, click here

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    726
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    13.0
    Dodgers
    Clayton Kershaw (W, 12-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    AL
    13.0
    White Sox
    Chris Sale (W, 10-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    0
    0
    2
    12
  

    
    10.0
    Mariners
    Chris Young (W, 9-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    3
    8
  

    
    9.0
    Reds
    Johnny Cueto (W, 11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    3
    9
  

    
    9.0
    Angels
    Matt Shoemaker (W, 8-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Dbacks
    Martin Prado   3B
    4
    1
    3
    5
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Rockies
    Tyler Matzek (W, 2-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    2
    3
  

    
    4.0
    Braves
    Craig Kimbrel (S, 31)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    `Brewers
    Zach Duke (H, 11)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    3.0
    Rays
    Jake McGee (S, 11)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Royals
    Greg Holland (S, 27)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    Dan Johnson   DH
    5
    1
    2
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Cardinals
    Matt Adams   1B
    5
    1
    2
    4
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Marlins
    Christian Yelich   LF
    4
    2
    2
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    Athletics
    John Jaso   C
    4
    1
    1
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Kershaw continues to lead Box-Toppers player rankings; Scherzer, Tulowitzki, Abreu among leaders

Shawn Plank July 26, 2014

No major changes among leaders in Box-Toppers player rankings since the All-Star break.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw continues to lead all players with 18.1 Box-Toppers points, through the games of Thursday, July 24.

Top players
Through Thursday, July 24





  
    

    OVERALL LEADERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Kershaw, Clayton 2494
    pi sp
    lad nl
    18.1
  

    2
    Scherzer, Max 2588
    pi sp
    det al
    17.1
  

    3
    Bumgarner, Madison 2753
    pi sp
    sf nl
    16.2
  

    4
    Wainwright, Adam 2150
    pi sp
    stl nl
    14.0
  

    5
    Hernandez, Felix 2064
    pi sp
    sea al
    13.8
  

    6
    Kazmir, Scott 1947
    pi sp
    oak al
    13.1
  

    7
    Richards, Garrett 3042
    pi sp
    ana al
    12.7
  

    8
    Cueto, Johnny 2400
    pi sp
    cin nl
    12.7
  

    9
    Tanaka, Masahiro 3305
    pi sp
    nyy al
    12.7
  

    10
    Price, David 2593
    pi sp
    tb al
    12.4
  

    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    AL PITCHERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Scherzer, Max 2588
    pi sp
    det al
    17.1
  

    2
    Hernandez, Felix 2064
    pi sp
    sea al
    13.8
  

    3
    Kazmir, Scott 1947
    pi sp
    oak al
    13.1
  

    4
    Richards, Garrett 3042
    pi sp
    ana al
    12.7
  

    5
    Tanaka, Masahiro 3305
    pi sp
    nyy al
    12.7
  

    6
    Price, David 2593
    pi sp
    tb al
    12.4
  

    7
    Darvish, Yu 3003
    pi sp
    tex al
    11.4
  

    8
    Kluber, Corey 3200
    pi sp
    cle al
    11.4
  

    9
    Sale, Chris 2806
    pi sp
    chi al
    11.0
  

    10
    Lester, Jon 2173
    pi sp
    bos al
    10.0
  

    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    AL BATTERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Abreu, Jose 3308
    1b
    chi al
    9.5
  

    2
    Cabrera, Miguel 1776
    1b
    det al
    8.5
  

    3
    Encarnacion, Edwin 2098
    1b dh lf
    tor al
    8.0
  

    4
    Cespedes, Yoenis 3008
    lf
    oak al
    8.0
  

    5
    Donaldson, Josh 3144
    3b
    oak al
    7.5
  

    6
    Jones, Adam 2347
    cf
    bal al
    6.5
  

    7
    Colabello, Chris 3235
    1b dh rf
    min al
    6.2
  

    8
    Aybar, Erick 2416
    ss
    ana al
    6.0
  

    9
    Hunter, Torii 1190
    rf
    det al
    5.5
  

    10
    Trout, Mike 2949
    cf
    ana al
    5.5
  

    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    NL PITCHERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Kershaw, Clayton 2494
    pi sp
    lad nl
    18.1
  

    2
    Bumgarner, Madison 2753
    pi sp
    sf nl
    16.2
  

    3
    Wainwright, Adam 2150
    pi sp
    stl nl
    14.0
  

    4
    Cueto, Johnny 2400
    pi sp
    cin nl
    12.7
  

    5
    Teheran, Julio 3176
    pi sp
    atl nl
    11.4
  

    6
    Lincecum, Tim 2288
    pi sp
    sf nl
    10.4
  

    7
    Greinke, Zack 1871
    pi sp
    lad nl
    10.1
  

    8
    Colon, Bartolo
    pi sp
    nym nl
    9.7
  

    9
    Kimbrel, Craig 2825
    pi cp
    atl nl
    9.0
  

    10
    Strasburg, Stephen 2736
    pi sp
    dc nl
    9.0
  

    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    NL BATTERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Tulowitzki, Troy 2308
    ss
    col nl
    11.6
  

    2
    Freeman, Freddie 2887
    1b
    atl nl
    7.7
  

    3
    McCutchen, Andrew 2637
    cf
    pit nl
    6.5
  

    4
    Rizzo, Anthony 3063
    1b
    chi nl
    5.5
  

    5
    Morse, Michael 2020
    lf
    sf nl
    5.5
  

    6
    Upton, Justin 2411
    lf
    atl nl
    5.2
  

    7
    Duda, Lucas 2818
    1b
    nym nl
    5.0
  

    8
    Stanton, Giancarlo 2737
    rf
    fla nl
    4.7
  

    9
    Lucroy, Jonathan 2744
    ca
    mil nl
    4.7
  

    10
    Murphy, Daniel 2589
    2b
    nym nl
    4.5
  

BTP: Box-Toppers points 

Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer continues to lead all American League players with 17.1 points. He is second among all players.

Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies continues to lead National League batters with 11.6 Box-Toppers points. He ranks 12th among all players.

Jose Abreu of the White Sox continues to lead American League batters. At the time of the report, July 24, he had 9.5 Box-Toppers points. He has since scored again and how has 10.5 points, ranking 17th among all players.

What are those numbers after players' names?

Oakland Athletics remain atop Box-Toppers team rankings; Angels, Tigers, Rays among hottest teams

Shawn Plank July 26, 2014

The Oakland Athletics remain atop Box-Toppers team rankings in the most recent report, through the games of Thursday, July 24.

Athletics players have accumulated 83.5 Box-Toppers points this season. They rose to the top spot for the report ending July 13, at the All-Star break.

Top 10 teams
Here are Box-Toppers' Top 10 teams, through the games of Thursday, July 24. The column BTP shows the number of Box-Toppers points players on the team have accumulated so far this season. The column BTP/wk shows have many points teams have accumulated since the last team rankings report through July 13.





  
    724
    Teams
    BTP
    BTP
/wk
    Last 
wk 
rank
  

    1
    Athletics
    83.5
    4.5
    1
  

    2
    Angels
    76.5
    7.0
    3
  

    3
    Dodgers
    71.7
    2.0
    2
  

    4
    Giants
    70.0
    5.7
    4
  

    5
    Blue Jays
    67.3
    6.0
    5
  

    6
    Tigers
    67.1
    7.0
    11
  

    7
    Brewers
    66.1
    5.5
    8
  

    8
    Nationals
    63.9
    4.7
    12
  

    9
    Braves
    63.9
    3.7
    10
  

    10
    Mariners
    62.7
    2.0
    6
  

BTP: Box-Toppers points

The Athletics are led by pitchers Scott Kazmir (13.1 Box-Toppers points, ranked seventh among all players) and Jason Hammel (8.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 13th among American League pitchers). (Hammel earned all his points with the Cubs before being traded to the Athletics.)

The Los Angeles Dodgers remain the top National League team for the third straight week, but fall from second to third place overall, falling behind the Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers have 71.7 Box-Toppers points. The Angels have 76.5.

The Dodgers are led by starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (18.1 Box-Toppers points, overall player rankings leader) and Zack Greinke (who had 10.1 Box-Toppers points after Thursday, but has since scored another 2.0, giving him 12.1).

The Los Angeles Angels, the Detroit Tigers and the Tampa Bay Rays all tied for the hottest team since the last team rankings report on July 13. All three teams accumulated 7.0 Box-Toppers points over that period.

The Angels rose from third to second place in team rankings with 76.5 Box-Toppers points. The Tigers rose from 11th to sixth place in team rankings with 67.1 Box-Toppers points. And the Rays rose from 16th to 12th place with 62.2 points.

Two teams rose into the top 10: The Tigers, as previously mentioned, from 11th to sixth, and the Washington Nationals, from 12th to eighth, with 63.9 Box-Toppers points. Two teams fell out of the top 10: The St. Louis Cardinals fell from ninth to 11th, with 62.5 Box-Toppers points, and the Cincinnati Reds fell from seventh to 16th place, with 60.6 Box-Toppers points. The Reds scored 0.0 Box-Toppers points since July 13.

The Chicago Cubs remain the lowest-ranked team. Gaining 1.0 Box-Toppers point since July 13, the Cubs have 39.7 points, 5.1 points behind the 29th-place Texas Rangers.

Dodgers' Greinke tops players for Friday, July 25, Rays' Price climbs to 4th in Box-Toppers player rankings

Shawn Plank July 26, 2014

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke is Friday’s Player of the Day, while Rays pitcher David Price rises to fourth place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Greinke pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out 10 in the 8-1 win over the Giants. Greinke earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 12.1 for the season. He is in 11th place in Box-Toppers player rankings and is in fifth place among National League pitchers.

Price rose from 10th to fourth place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season after earning American League Player of the Day honors Friday. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Price (8IP 3R 10K W in the 6-4 win over the Red Sox) earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points, giving him 14.1 for the season. He ranks second among AL pitchers, behind Max Scherzer of the Tigers (17.1 Box-Toppers points).

Luis Valbuena of the Cubs is NL Batter of the Day. Valbuena hit a two-run homer and scored three times in the 7-6 win over the Cardinals.

Billy Butler of the Royals is AL Batter of the Day. Butler hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the 6-4 win over the Indians.

Notable: Jose Abreu of the White Sox became the 19th player this season to earn 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points this season, after earning Player of the Game honors Friday. Abreu hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-5 with two runs, in the 9-5 win over the Twins. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 10.5 for the season, putting him in 17th place in Box-Toppers player rankings. He extends his lead in Box-Toppers points among AL batters—Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers is in second place with 8.5.

Greinke receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Price receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Valbuena and Butler each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Friday, click here

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    725
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    Dodgers
    Zack Greinke (W, 12-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    10
  

    
    7.2
    `Mets
    Zack Wheeler
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    3
    2
    1
    2
    9
  

    
    7.0
    Nationals
    Tanner Roark (W, 10-6)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    
    6.1
    Marlins
    Brad Hand (W, 2-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.1
    3
    0
    0
    2
    4
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Cubs
    Luis Valbuena   3B
    2
    3
    1
    2
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    AL
    4.0
    Rays
    David Price (W, 11-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    8
    3
    3
    0
    10
  

    
    3.2
    `Orioles
    Brian Matusz
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    Rockies
    Josh Rutledge   SS
    4
    1
    2
    4
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Phillies
    Domonic Brown   LF
    4
    2
    2
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Royals
    Billy Butler   PH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Rangers
    Jerome Williams (W, 2-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    1
    1
    0
    4
  

    
    2.2
    `Angels
    Tyler Skaggs
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    5
    1
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    2.0
    White Sox
    Jose Abreu   1B
    5
    2
    2
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Yankees
    Ichiro Suzuki   RF
    3
    1
    1
    3
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Padres
    Jesse Hahn (W, 6-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    3
    4
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Blue Jays' Stroman tops players for Thursday, July 24, Tigers' Scherzer regains 2nd place in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank July 25, 2014

Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman is Thursday’s Player of the Day, while Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer rises to second place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Stroman pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out seven, in the 8-0 win over the Red Sox.

Scherzer rises from third to regain second place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Thursday. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Scherzer (7IP 11K W in the 6-4 win over the Angels) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 17.1 for the season. He remains top American League pitcher, ahead of second-place Felix Hernandez of the Mariners (13.8). He is only 1.0 Box-Toppers point away from his total at the end of last season, 18.1, when he led all AL players.

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels is National League Player of the Day. Hamels struck out 10 over eight innings, allowing one run, in the 2-1 win over the Giants.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia of the Marlins is NL Batter of the Day. Saltalamacchia went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI in the 3-2 win over the Braves.

There was no AL Batter of the Day Thursday because no AL batter earned Player of the Game honors.

Stroman receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Hamels receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Saltalamacchia receives 1.5 for being NL Batter of the Day.

All of Thursday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Thursday, click here

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    724
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Blue Jays
    Marcus Stroman (W, 6-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    1
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    
    10.0
    `Royals
    Danny Duffy
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    NL
    9.0
    Phillies
    Cole Hamels (W, 5-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    6
    1
    1
    1
    10
  

    
    9.0
    Padres
    Tyson Ross (W, 9-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    11
  

    
    7.0
    Athletics
    Jeff Samardzija (W, 2-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    1
    1
    0
    6
  

    
    7.0
    Brewers
    Matt Garza (W, 7-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    1
    1
    1
    4
  

    
    5.0
    Orioles
    Wei-Yin Chen (W, 11-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    5.0
    Tigers
    Max Scherzer (W, 12-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    3
    3
    1
    11
  

    
    3.0
    Yankees
    Brandon McCarthy (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    1
    1
    2
    5
  

    
    3.0
    White Sox
    Jake Petricka (S, 5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    1.0
    Marlins
    Jarrod Saltalamacchia   C
    4
    1
    3
    1
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Rays' Cobb tops players for Wednesday, July 23, Giants' Bumgarner rises to 2nd in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank July 24, 2014

Rays pitcher Alex Cobb is Wednesday’s Player of the Day, while Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner rises to second place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Cobb pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out 10 in the 3-0 win over the Cardinals.

Bumgarner rose from third to second place in season Box-Toppers player rankings after earning National League Player of the Day honors. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Bumgarner pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out six in the 3-1 win over the Phillies. Bumgarner earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 16.2 for the season. He trails only overall Box-Toppers leader, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who has 18.1 points.

Yoenis Cespedes of the Athletics is American League Batter of the Day. Cespedes homered twice and drove in five runs in the 9-7 win over the Astros.

Mark Reynolds of the Brewers is NL Batter of the Day. Reynolds homered twice and went 3-for-4, driving in three runs, in the 5-1 win over the Reds.

Cobb receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Bumgarner receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Cespedes and Reynolds each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Wednesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Wednesday, click here

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    723
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    Rays
    Alex Cobb (W, 6-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    10
  

    NL
    9.0
    Giants
    Madison Bumgarner (W, 12-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    6
  

    
    7.1
    Rockies
    Jorge De La Rosa (W, 11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.1
    8
    2
    1
    0
    11
  

    
    6.1
    Braves
    Ervin Santana (W, 9-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.1
    6
    1
    1
    3
    10
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Athletics
    Yoenis Cespedes   LF
    4
    2
    2
    5
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    `Royals
    James Shields
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    1
    7
  

    
    4.1
    Mets
    Bartolo Colon (W, 9-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.1
    3
    2
    2
    1
    5
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Brewers
    Mark Reynolds   1B
    4
    2
    3
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Angels
    Jered Weaver (W, 11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    6
    2
    2
    0
    6
  

    
    3.0
    Tigers
    Miguel Cabrera   3B
    4
    2
    2
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Pirates
    Travis Snider   LF
    3
    3
    2
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Twins
    Anthony Swarzak (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    2
    1
    1
    1
    3
  

    
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    Jose Bautista   1B
    4
    2
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Padres
    Tommy Medica   1B
    5
    1
    3
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Yankees
    Francisco Cervelli   C
    2
    1
    2
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Mets' Jacob deGrom, Yankees' Chase Whitley top players for Tuesday, June 22

Shawn Plank July 23, 2014

Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is Tuesday’s Player of the Day. deGrom struck out seven over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 3-1 win over the Mariners.

deGrom earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 7.0 for the season and is in 50th place in Box-Toppers player rankings, 24th among National League pitchers. Of the 15 players who earned Player of the Game honors Tuesday, deGrom has the most Box-Toppers points this season.

Yankees pitcher Chase Whitley is American League Player of the Day. Whitley pitched six scoreless innings and struck out six in the 14-inning, 2-1 win over the Rangers. Whitley exited the game with the score tied 0-0 and so did not earn the win.

Gregory Polanco of the Pirates is National League Batter of the Day. Polanco homered and went 2-for-4, scoring three times and driving in three runs, in the 12-7 win over the Dodgers.

Carlos Santana of the Indians is AL Batter of the Day. Santana homered, doubled and went 4-for-5, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 8-2 win over the Twins.

deGrom receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Whitley receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Polanco and Santana each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Tuesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Tuesday, click here.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    722
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    6.0
    Mets
    Jacob deGrom (W, 4-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    7
  

    AL
    5.0
    `Yankees
    Chase Whitley
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    7
    0
    0
    0
    6
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Pirates
    Gregory Polanco   RF
    4
    3
    2
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Cubs
    Kyle Hendricks (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    0
    0
    3
    5
  

    
    4.0
    `Astros
    Josh Fields
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Indians
    Carlos Santana   1B
    5
    2
    4
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Royals
    Mike Moustakas   3B
    5
    2
    3
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Orioles
    Zach Britton (S, 18)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Brewers
    Jonathan Lucroy   C
    4
    2
    2
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Marlins
    Christian Yelich   LF
    4
    3
    2
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Dbacks
    David Peralta   CF, LF
    3
    3
    2
    0
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    J.A. Happ (W, 8-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    7
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    
    1.2
    Rays
    Jake Odorizzi (W, 6-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    5
    2
    2
    3
    8
  

    
    1.0
    Giants
    Brandon Crawford   SS
    6
    1
    2
    4
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Nationals
    Adam LaRoche   1B
    5
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Red Sox' Lackey, Nationals' Desmond top players for Monday, July 21

Shawn Plank July 22, 2014

Red Sox pitcher John Lackey is Monday’s Player of the Day. Lackey pitched seven innings, allowing two hits and one run, in the 14-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Ian Desmond of the Nationals is National League Player of the Day. Desmond homered and went 5-for-5, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 7-2 win over the Rockies.

Adam Jones of the Orioles is American League Batter of the Day. Jones homered twice and drove in four runs in the 4-2 win over the Angels.

Notable: White Sox pitcher Chris Sale rises to 15th place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Monday. Sale (7IP 1R 8K W in the 3-1 win over the Royals) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.0 for the season. He is in ninth place in Box-Toppers points among AL pitchers.

Lackey receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Desmond receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Jones receives 1.5 for being AL Batter of the Day.

All of Monday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    721
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    6.0
    Red Sox
    John Lackey (W, 11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    1
    1
    0
    3
  

    NL
    5.0
    Nationals
    Ian Desmond   SS
    5
    3
    5
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    White Sox
    Chris Sale (W, 9-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    7
    1
    1
    1
    8
  

    
    5.0
    Brewers
    Wily Peralta (W, 11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    5
  

    
    4.2
    `Marlins
    Tom Koehler
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    5
    1
    1
    2
    7
  

    
    4.1
    Mariners
    Roenis Elias (W, 8-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    5
    1
    1
    2
    8
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Orioles
    Adam Jones   CF
    4
    2
    2
    4
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Giants
    George Kontos (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    2.0
    Dodgers
    Adrian Gonzalez   1B
    3
    1
    3
    1
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Twins
    Josh Willingham   LF
    3
    2
    2
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    `Tigers
    Joba Chamberlain (H, 20)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    Rangers
    Geovany Soto   C
    3
    1
    2
    1
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Red Sox' Jon Lester, Braves' Alex Wood top players for Sunday, July 20

Shawn Plank July 21, 2014

Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester is Sunday’s Player of the Day. Lester pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out eight in the 6-0 win over the Royals.

Lester earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 10.0 for the season, moving up to 18th place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season, 10th among American League pitchers. He is the 18th player this season with 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points.

Braves pitcher Alex Wood is National League Player of the Day. Wood struck out eight over six innings, allowing one run, in the 8-2 win over the Phillies.

Matt Dominguez of the Astros is AL Batter of the Day. Dominguez homered, doubled and went 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in four runs, in the 11-7 win over the White Sox.

Neil Walker of the Pirates is NL Batter of the Day. Walker homered and went 3-for-4, scoring twice, in the 5-3 win over the Rockies.

Lester receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Wood receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Dominguez and Walker each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Sunday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Sunday, click here.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    720
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.0
    Red Sox
    Jon Lester (W, 10-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    8
  

    NL
    9.0
    Braves
    Alex Wood (W, 7-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    0
    8
  

    
    7.2
    Athletics
    Sonny Gray (W, 11-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    2
    2
    1
    2
    8
  

    
    6.2
    `Yankees
    Hiroki Kuroda
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    3
    1
    0
    2
    6
  

    
    5.2
    `Padres
    Odrisamer Despaigne
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    2
    1
    1
    3
    5
  

    
    5.0
    Tigers
    Drew Smyly (W, 6-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    2
    6
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Astros
    Matt Dominguez   3B
    5
    2
    3
    4
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Dbacks
    Josh Collmenter (W, 8-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    1
    4
  

    
    3.0
    Blue Jays
    Melky Cabrera   LF
    5
    2
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    2.0
    Pirates
    Neil Walker   2B
    4
    2
    3
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Angels
    Mike Trout   CF
    4
    3
    2
    1
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Marlins
    Steve Cishek (S, 21)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    Dodgers
    Kenley Jansen (S, 28)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    Nationals
    Ryan Zimmerman   3B
    4
    1
    2
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Rays
    Jake McGee (H, 12)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    1
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Rays' Price tops players for Saturday, July 19, rises to 10th in Box-Toppers rankings; Mariners' Hernandez rises to 5th

Shawn Plank July 20, 2014

Rays pitcher David Price is Saturday’s Player of the Day, rising to 10th place in Box-Toppers player rankings. Meanwhile, Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez rises to fifth place in player rankings.

Price pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits, no walks and striking out nine, in the 5-1 win over the Twins. Price earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 12.4 for the season and rising to 10th place in Box-Toppers player rankings. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Price bumps the only batter, Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies (11.6 Box-Toppers points) from the top 10 list. Price ranks sixth among American League pitchers.

Hernandez was Player of the Game in the Mariners 3-2 win over the Angels (7IP 1R 9K ND), earning 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 13.8 for the season. He rises from sixth to fifth in Box-Toppers player rankings. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) He ranks second among AL pitchers, behind Max Scherzer of the Tigers (16.1 Box-Toppers points).

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels is National League Player of the Day. Hamels struck out nine over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 2-1 win over the Braves.

Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks is NL Batter of the Day. Goldschmidt homered, doubled, went 3-for-3, with three runs and three RBIs, in the 9-3 win over the Cubs.

Adam Jones of the Orioles is AL Batter of the Day. Jones homered and went 2-for-5, scoring twice and driving in five runs, in the 8-4 win over the Athletics.

Notable: Indians pitcher Corey Kluber rose to 14th place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Kluber (8.2IP 2R 10K W in the 6-2 win over the Tigers) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.4 for the season. He ranks eighth among AL pitchers.

Price receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Hamels receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Goldschmidt and Jones each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Saturday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Saturday, click here.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    719
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    13.0
    Rays
    David Price (W, 10-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    0
    0
    0
    9
  

    NL
    10.0
    Phillies
    Cole Hamels (W, 4-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    0
    9
  

    
    9.0
    `Mariners
    Felix Hernandez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    1
    0
    4
    9
  

    
    8.0
    Blue Jays
    Marcus Stroman (W, 5-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    
    7.0
    Yankees
    Brandon McCarthy (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    6
    1
    1
    0
    9
  

    
    6.2
    Indians
    Corey Kluber (W, 10-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.2
    7
    2
    2
    1
    10
  

    BAT
    6.0
    Dbacks
    Paul Goldschmidt   1B
    3
    3
    3
    3
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    Padres
    Tyson Ross (W, 8-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    3
    6
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Orioles
    Adam Jones   CF
    4
    2
    2
    5
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Cardinals
    Joe Kelly (W, 2-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    1
    4
  

    
    3.1
    `Indians
    Zach McAllister
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    3
    1
    1
    3
    6
  

    
    3.0
    Nationals
    Tanner Roark (W, 9-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    2.0
    White Sox
    Tyler Flowers   C
    3
    0
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Red Sox
    Mike Napoli   1B
    3
    2
    2
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Giants
    Brandon Belt   1B
    1
    1
    1
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Pirates
    Neil Walker   2B
    5
    2
    3
    1
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Rangers' Darvish tops players for Friday, July 18, Giants' Bumgarner rises to 3rd in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank July 19, 2014

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish is Friday’s Player of the Day, while Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner rises to third place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Darvish struck out 12 over six innings, allowing one run, in the 5-1 win over the Blue Jays. Darvish earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 11.4 for the season, moving him to 11th place in Box-Toppers player rankings, sixth among American League pitchers.

Bumgarner rises from fourth to third in Box-Toppers points for the season after earning Player of the Game honors Friday. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Bumgarner (6IP 1R 7K W in the 9-1 win over the Marlins) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 14.5 for the season. He now ranks second among National League pitchers, behind Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, who leads all players with 18.1 Box-Toppers points.

Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano is NL Player of the Day. Liriano struck out eight over five innings in the 4-2 win over the Rockies. Liriano left the game with the score tied 1-1 and so did not pick up the win.

Jason Kipnis of the Indians is AL Batter of the Day. Kipnis hit two home runs and drove in four, in the 9-3 win over the Tigers.

Travis d’Arnaud of the Mets is NL Batter of the Day. d’Arnaud went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs in the 5-4 win over the Padres. This was d’Arnaud’s Box-Toppers debut, the first time he has earned Player of the Game honors. He is the 3,384th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995. d’Arnaud made his Major League debut Aug. 17, 2013, and was playing in his 87th game.

Notable: Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox, Player of the Game in the 5-4 win over the Royals, also made his Box-Toppers debut. He is the 3,383rd player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995. Bogaerts made his Major League debut Aug. 20, 2013, and was playing in his 107th game.

Darvish receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Liriano receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Kipnis and d’Arnaud each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Friday, click here.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    718
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    8.2
    Rangers
    Yu Darvish (W, 9-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    1
    1
    3
    12
  

    NL
    6.0
    `Pirates
    Francisco Liriano
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    3
    1
    0
    3
    8
  

    
    5.0
    Giants
    Madison Bumgarner (W, 11-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    1
    1
    2
    7
  

    
    5.0
    White Sox
    Daniel Webb (W, 5-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Indians
    Jason Kipnis   2B
    5
    2
    2
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Cardinals
    Lance Lynn (W, 11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    2
    2
    4
    9
  

    
    3.0
    Braves
    Craig Kimbrel (S, 30)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.2
    Angels
    Hector Santiago (W, 2-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Red Sox
    Xander Bogaerts   3B
    3
    2
    1
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Rays
    Ben Zobrist   LF
    3
    2
    1
    2
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.1
    Yankees
    David Phelps (W, 4-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    6
    3
    2
    1
    7
  

    BAT
    1.0
    Mets
    Travis d`Arnaud   C
    5
    1
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Athletics
    Josh Donaldson   3B
    4
    1
    1
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Brewers
    Scooter Gennett   2B
    3
    2
    1
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Diamondbacks
    Nick Evans   PH
    1
    0
    1
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Oakland Athletics have most players on Box-Toppers Top 100 list

Shawn Plank July 17, 2014

The Oakland Athletics, baseball’s best team at the All-Star break, has seven players on Box-Toppers Top 100 players list, the most of any team.

The list is led by Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw who has earned 18.1 Box-Toppers points this season and Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer with 16.1. Kershaw led all players in 2013 with 21.7 Box-Toppers points and Scherzer led all American League players in 2013 with 18.1.

Top 100 list 2014
Here is Box-Toppers Top 100, listing players with the highest Box-Toppers points totals at the All-Star break.






  
    

    Player
    Pos
    Team
    BTP
  

    1
    Kershaw, Clayton 2494
    pi sp
    lad nl
    18.1
  

    2
    Scherzer, Max 2588
    pi sp
    det al
    16.1
  

    3
    Wainwright, Adam 2150
    pi sp
    stl nl
    14.0
  

    4
    Bumgarner, Madison 2753
    pi sp
    sf nl
    13.5
  

    5
    Kazmir, Scott 1947
    pi sp
    oak al
    13.1
  

    6
    Hernandez, Felix 2064
    pi sp
    sea al
    12.8
  

    7
    Richards, Garrett 3042
    pi sp
    ana al
    12.7
  

    8
    Cueto, Johnny 2400
    pi sp
    cin nl
    12.7
  

    9
    Tanaka, Masahiro 3305
    pi sp
    nyy al
    12.7
  

    10
    Tulowitzki, Troy 2308
    ss
    col nl
    11.6
  

    11
    Teheran, Julio 3176
    pi sp
    atl nl
    11.4
  

    12
    Lincecum, Tim 2288
    pi sp
    sf nl
    10.4
  

    13
    Price, David 2593
    pi sp
    tb al
    10.4
  

    14
    Kluber, Corey 3200
    pi sp
    cle al
    10.4
  

    15
    Greinke, Zack 1871
    pi sp
    lad nl
    10.1
  

    16
    Sale, Chris 2806
    pi sp
    chi al
    10.0
  

    17
    Abreu, Jose 3308
    1b
    chi al
    9.5
  

    18
    Darvish, Yu 3003
    pi sp
    tex al
    9.4
  

    19
    Strasburg, Stephen 2736
    pi sp
    dc nl
    9.0
  

    20
    Hutchison, Drew 3038
    pi sp
    tor al
    9.0
  

    21
    Colon, Bartolo
    pi sp
    nym nl
    8.7
  

    22
    Alvarez, Henderson 2951
    pi sp
    fla nl
    8.7
  

    23
    Simon, Alfredo 2718
    pi sp
    cin nl
    8.7
  

    24
    Hammel, Jason 2235
    pi sp
    oak al
    8.7
  

    25
    Keuchel, Dallas 3050
    pi sp
    hou al
    8.7
  

    26
    Lohse, Kyle 1487
    pi sp
    mil nl
    8.4
  

    27
    Ryu, Hyun-Jin 3139
    pi sp
    lad nl
    8.4
  

    28
    Hughes, Phil 2272
    pi sp
    min al
    8.4
  

    29
    Young, Chris 1933
    pi sp
    sea al
    8.4
  

    30
    Kimbrel, Craig 2825
    pi cp
    atl nl
    8.0
  

    31
    Lester, Jon 2173
    pi sp
    bos al
    8.0
  

    32
    Encarnacion, Edwin 2098
    1b dh lf
    tor al
    8.0
  

    33
    Freeman, Freddie 2887
    1b
    atl nl
    7.7
  

    34
    Hudson, Tim 1231
    pi sp
    sf nl
    7.7
  

    35
    Lackey, John 1640
    pi sp
    bos al
    7.7
  

    36
    Arrieta, Jake 2738
    pi sp
    chi nl
    7.7
  

    37
    Chavez, Jesse 2780
    pi sp
    oak al
    7.7
  

    38
    Beckett, Josh 1544
    pi sp
    lad nl
    7.7
  

    39
    Cabrera, Miguel 1776
    1b
    det al
    7.5
  

    40
    Fernandez, Jose 3147
    pi sp
    fla nl
    7.0
  

    41
    Lynn, Lance 2992
    pi sp
    stl nl
    7.0
  

    42
    Iwakuma, Hisashi 3048
    pi sp
    sea al
    7.0
  

    43
    Zimmermann, Jordan 2612
    pi sp
    dc nl
    7.0
  

    44
    Gonzalez, Gio 2626
    pi sp
    dc nl
    7.0
  

    45
    Santana, Ervin 2005
    pi sp
    atl nl
    7.0
  

    46
    Uehara, Koji 2802
    pi cp
    bos al
    7.0
  

    47
    Gray, Sonny 3259
    pi sp
    oak al
    7.0
  

    48
    Shields, James 2157
    pi sp
    kc al
    6.7
  

    49
    Kennedy, Ian 2723
    pi sp
    sd nl
    6.7
  

    50
    Donaldson, Josh 3144
    3b
    oak al
    6.5
  

    51
    Cespedes, Yoenis 3008
    lf
    oak al
    6.5
  

    52
    McCutchen, Andrew 2637
    cf
    pit nl
    6.5
  

    53
    Archer, Chris 3194
    pi sp
    tb al
    6.4
  

    54
    McHugh, Collin 3316
    pi sp
    hou al
    6.4
  

    55
    Colabello, Chris 3235
    1b dh rf
    min al
    6.2
  

    56
    Gallardo, Yovani 2333
    pi sp
    mil nl
    6.0
  

    57
    Collmenter, Josh 2863
    pi sp
    ari nl
    6.0
  

    58
    Aybar, Erick 2416
    ss
    ana al
    6.0
  

    59
    Duffy, Danny 2915
    pi sp mr
    kc al
    6.0
  

    60
    Doolittle, Sean 3052
    pi cp
    oak al
    6.0
  

    61
    Elias, Roenis 3309
    pi sp
    sea al
    6.0
  

    62
    Buehrle, Mark 1407
    pi sp
    tor al
    5.7
  

    63
    Wilson, C.J. 2074
    pi sp
    ana al
    5.7
  

    64
    Fister, Doug 2688
    pi sp
    dc nl
    5.7
  

    65
    Ross, Tyson 2840
    pi sp
    sd nl
    5.7
  

    66
    Vogelsong, Ryan 1820
    pi sp
    sf nl
    5.7
  

    67
    Hahn, Jesse 3354
    pi sp
    sd nl
    5.7
  

    68
    Hunter, Torii 1190
    rf
    det al
    5.5
  

    69
    Rizzo, Anthony 3063
    1b
    chi nl
    5.5
  

    70
    Ramirez, Alexei 2537
    ss
    chi al
    5.5
  

    71
    Morse, Michael 2020
    lf
    sf nl
    5.5
  

    72
    Upton, Justin 2411
    lf
    atl nl
    5.2
  

    73
    Masterson, Justin 2462
    pi sp
    cle al
    5.0
  

    74
    Miller, Shelby 3134
    pi sp
    stl nl
    5.0
  

    75
    Bailey, Homer 2324
    pi sp
    cin nl
    5.0
  

    76
    Holland, Greg 2906
    pi cp
    kc al
    5.0
  

    77
    Hamels, Cole 2135
    pi sp
    phi nl
    5.0
  

    78
    Burnett, A.J. 1300
    pi sp
    phi nl
    5.0
  

    79
    Vargas, Jason 2055
    pi sp
    kc al
    5.0
  

    80
    Cashner, Andrew 2807
    pi sp
    sd nl
    5.0
  

    81
    Wood, Travis 2777
    pi sp
    chi nl
    5.0
  

    82
    Chapman, Aroldis 2826
    pi cp
    cin nl
    5.0
  

    83
    Leake, Mike 2709
    pi sp
    cin nl
    5.0
  

    84
    Porcello, Rick 2573
    pi sp
    det al
    5.0
  

    85
    Smyly, Drew 3009
    pi sp mr
    det al
    5.0
  

    86
    Cishek, Steve 2997
    pi cp
    fla nl
    5.0
  

    87
    Perez, Martin 3213
    pi sp
    tex al
    5.0
  

    88
    Roark, Tanner 3261
    pi sp
    dc nl
    5.0
  

    89
    Volquez, Edinson 2220
    pi sp
    pit nl
    5.0
  

    90
    Wacha, Michael 3276
    pi sp
    stl nl
    5.0
  

    91
    Suzuki, Kurt 2344
    ca
    min al
    5.0
  

    92
    Seager, Kyle 3031
    3b
    sea al
    5.0
  

    93
    Koehler, Tom 3159
    pi sp
    fla nl
    5.0
  

    94
    Dozier, Brian 3219
    2b
    min al
    5.0
  

    95
    Robertson, David 2774
    pi cp
    nyy al
    5.0
  

    96
    Tomlin, Josh 2771
    pi sp cp
    cle al
    5.0
  

    97
    Rodriguez, Sean 2729
    lf 1b 2b dh ph
    tb al
    5.0
  

    98
    Duda, Lucas 2818
    1b
    nym nl
    5.0
  

    99
    deGrom, Jacob 3343
    pi sp
    nym nl
    5.0
  

    100
    Cobb, Alex 2916
    pi sp
    tb al
    4.7
  

BTP: Box-Toppers points 

Pitcher Scott Kazmir leads the seven Athletics on the top 100 list, he has 13.1 Box-Toppers points and is in fifth place overall (second among AL pitchers). The other Athletics players are:

• Jason Hammel, starting pitcher, in 24th place with 8.7. (Hammel earned all 8.7 Box-Toppers points with the Cubs, prior to being traded to the Athletics.)

• Jesse Chavez, starting pitcher, in 37th place with 7.7.

• Sonny Gray, starting pitcher, in 47th place with 7.0.

• Josh Donaldson, third base, in 50th place with 6.5.

• Yoenis Cespedes, left field, in 51st place with 6.5.

• Sean Doolittle, closing pitcher, in 60th place with 6.0.

Athletics players have accumulated 79.0 Box-Toppers points this season, the most of any team. The Los Angeles Dodgers, in second place, have 69.7.

While the addition of Hammel gives the Athletics seven players in the top 100, they would still have the most players on the list without him, with six. No other team has more than five players on the list. There are five teams with five players each—the Atlanta Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, the Washington Nationals, the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners.

All but one team is represented on the top 100 list. The only team without a member is the Baltimore Orioles. That team’s leader in Box-Toppers points, Nelson Cruz, designated hitter and left fielder, has 4.5 points, in 109th place. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies both have one player on the top 100 list.

Pitchers dominate the top 100 list, with 80 members—73 of them starting pitchers. Box-Toppers tends to favor pitchers over batters, especially in the short-term. Star pitchers tend to rack up points in quick batches while batters tend to pick up points steadily over long periods of time. For example, the Box-Toppers “all-time” top 100 list has 45 batters and 55 pitchers (the “all-time” list tracks players since 1995, when Box-Toppers record keeping began).

Here is a breakdown of the top 100 list by position:

• Starting pitchers 73

• Closing pitchers 7

• First base 7

• Outfield 6 (4 LF, 1 CF, 1 RF)

• Shortstop 3

• Third base 2

• Second base 1

• Catcher 1

Here are some notable players’ statuses in the top 100.

• Last year’s Cy Young Award winners are ranked No. 1 and 2. Kershaw, the reigning National League winner, is in first place with 18.1 Box-Toppers points and Scherzer, the reigning AL winner, is in second place with 16.1.

• Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies leads all NL batters and is in 10th place overall, with 11.6 Box-Toppers points.

• Jose Abreu of the White Sox leads all AL batters and is in 17th place overall, with 9.5 Box-Toppers points.

• Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers, 2013’s AL Most Valuable Player is in 39th place overall with 7.5 Box-Toppers points. He ranks third among AL batters.

• Pitcher Jose Fernandez of the Marlins, 2013’s NL Rookie of the Year is in 40th place overall with 7.0 Box-Toppers points. However, Fernandez is injured and now out for the rest of the season.

• Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates, 2013’s NL MVP, is in 52nd place overall with 6.5 Box-Toppers points (already more than the 6.0 he earned last season, when he ranked 22nd among NL batters). McCutchen currently ranks third among NL batters.

• Pitcher Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals, who started the All-Star Game for the NL, is ranked third overall with 14.0 Box-Toppers points. He ranks second among NL pitchers.

• Pitcher Felix Hernandez of the Mariners, who started the All-Star Game for the AL, is ranked sixth overall with 12.8 Box-Toppers points. He ranks third among AL pitchers.

• Wil Myers of the Rays, 2013’s AL Rookie of the Year has 1.0 Box-Toppers point and is not on this year’s top 100. (He had 3.5 Box-Toppers points in 2013.)

• Pitcher Chris Archer of the Rays, who led AL Rookies in Box-Toppers points in 2013, is in 53rd place with 6.4 Box-Toppers points. (Last season, he had 11.7 Box-Toppers points.)

So far this season, 578 players have earned Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors and so have at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point. Eighty new players have earned Player of the Game honors for the first time this season, making their Box-Toppers debut.

What are those numbers after players' names?

Mike Trout is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in 2014 All-Star Game

Shawn Plank July 16, 2014

Mike Trout of the Angels is Box-Toppers’ All-Star Player of the Game.

Trout, who also won the All-Star MVP Award Tuesday, tripled and went 2-for-3, scoring a run and drove in two more, as the American League defeated the National League 5-3 in the annual All-Star Game.

Trout had a Box-Toppers game score of 2.0, tied for the highest with five other pitchers from the winning AL team, but Trout won Player of the Game on a tie-breaker—in cases of Box-Toppers game score ties, batters beat pitchers.

Trout has earned 4.5 Box-Toppers points this season—including earning Player of the Game honors in his most recent game Sunday. He ranks 16th among AL batters in Box-Toppers points, seventh among AL outfielders.

Trout’s 4.5 Box-Toppers points this season is already better than the 3.5 he earned in 2013. His best season was 2012, when he had 11.0 Box-Toppers points, ranking fifth among AL batters. In his four seasons, he has 20.5 Box-Toppers points.

Trout currently ranks third among all players in Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball-Reference.com. While he ranks higher than any Angels player in the WAR stat, in Box-Toppers, he ranks fourth among Angels players, behind these players:

• Pitcher Garrett Richards, 12.7

• Shortstop Erick Aybar, 6.0

• Pitcher C.J. Wilson, 5.7

• Designated hitter/first baseman Albert Pujols, 4.5

Just as All-Star Game statistics don’t count in a player’s regular season statistics, no Box-Toppers points are awarded for the All-Star Game.

Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer, who pitched one inning in the fifth, was the second-ranked AL player, also with a Box-Toppers game score of 2.0. He finished ahead of other pitchers tied with 2.0 on a tiebreaker because he picked up the win. Scherzer currently leads AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points with 16.1. He ranks second among all players.

Craig Kimbrel of the Braves, usually a closing pitcher, had the highest Box-Toppers game score on the losing NL team of 4.0. Kimbrel pitched the seventh inning, allowed no hits or runs and struck out three. So though he had the highest Box-Toppers game score of any player Tuesday, he did not qualify as Player of the Game because he was on the losing side.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Tuesday, click here.

Box-Toppers game scores of AL All-Star players

Here are all the players who played for the winning American League team in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score. Mike Trout had the highest game score and is Box-Toppers All-Star Player of the Game (POG)

  
    715
    Score
    Team
    BATTERS
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    POG
    2.0
    AL
    Mike Trout   LF
    3
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    AL
    Max Scherzer (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    AL
    Glen Perkins (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    AL
    Felix Hernandez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    AL
    Yu Darvish (H, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    AL
    Greg Holland (H, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.2
    AL
    Sean Doolittle (H, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    0.2
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    1.1
    AL
    Koji Uehara (H, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    0.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    AL
    Miguel Cabrera   1B
    3
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    AL
    Derek Jeter   SS
    2
    1
    2
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    AL
    Jose Altuve   2B
    0
    0
    0
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.2
    AL
    Scott Kazmir (H, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    0.2
    1
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    0.1
    AL
    Fernando Rodney (H, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    0.1
    0
    0
    0
    1
    1
  

    
    0.0
    AL
    Alexei Ramirez   SS
    2
    1
    1
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    AL
    Derek Norris   C
    2
    1
    1
    0
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    AL
    Erick Aybar   SS
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    AL
    Adrian Beltre   3B
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    AL
    Kurt Suzuki   C
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -1.0
    AL
    Brandon Moss   RF
    1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -1.0
    AL
    Ian Kinsler   PH, 2B
    1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -1.0
    AL
    Jose Abreu   1B
    1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -1.0
    AL
    Michael Brantley   CF
    1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -1.0
    AL
    Salvador Perez   C
    1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -1.0
    AL
    Chris Sale (BS, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    1
    1
    0
    1
  

    
    -2.0
    AL
    Robinson Cano   2B
    2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -2.0
    AL
    Jose Bautista   RF
    2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -2.0
    AL
    Yoenis Cespedes   LF
    2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -2.0
    AL
    Nelson Cruz   DH
    2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -2.0
    AL
    Kyle Seager   PH, DH
    2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -2.0
    AL
    Adam Jones   CF
    2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -2.0
    AL
    Josh Donaldson   3B
    2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    -6.0
    AL
    Jon Lester (H, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    3
    2
    2
    0
    0
  

Last year's All-Star Game: White Sox' Chris Sale is 2013 All-Star Game top player in AL win

Giants' Tim Hudson rises onto Box-Toppers 'all-time' top 10 pitchers list

Shawn Plank July 15, 2014

Giants pitcher Tim Hudson has moved into Box-Toppers ‘all-time’ top 10 pitchers list, passing Hall-of-Famer Greg Maddux.

Top 10 pitchers 'all-time'
Here are Box-Toppers' Top 10 'all-time' pitchers (record keeping began in 1995). The column BTP shows the number of Box-Toppers points players have accumulated since 1995.





  
    

    Player
    Pos
    Team
    BTP
  

    1
    Johnson, Randy
    pi sp
    retired
    278.8
  

    2
    Martinez, Pedro J.
    pi sp
    retired
    244.8
  

    3
    Schilling, Curt
    pi sp
    retired
    194.1
  

    4
    Sabathia, C.C. 1492
    pi sp
    nyy al
    173.3
  

    5
    Halladay, Roy 1178
    pi sp
    retired
    170.7
  

    6
    Santana, Johan 1448
    pi sp
    bal al
    166.6
  

    7
    Clemens, Roger
    pi sp
    retired
    164.8
  

    8
    Smoltz, John
    pi sp
    retired
    160.9
  

    9
    Mussina, Mike
    pi sp
    retired
    155.6
  

    10
    Hudson, Tim 1231
    pi sp
    sf nl
    152.0
  

BTP: Box-Toppers points

Hudson, who earned Player of the Game honors July 5, now has 152.0 career Box-Toppers points (including 7.7 this season) and passes Maddux, who had 151.7.

However, Box-Toppers record keeping did not begin until 1995 and so some of Maddux’s most productive years—1986 to 1994, in which he won 15 or more games per season seven times—are not recorded. Meanwhile, Hudson’s entire career, beginning in 1999, has been recorded.

Hudson has scored at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point in each of his 16 seasons. He has scored 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points in a season six times. His best season was in 2001 with the Oakland Athletics, when he earned 18.8 Box-Toppers points. He ranks 14th among all players in ‘all-time’ Box-Toppers points, just behind Barry Bonds (153.2).

Hudson turned 39 Monday.

The top 10 ‘all-time’ pitchers list does not change that often. The last time there was any change in the standings was June 2013, when Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia passed Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay to move into fourth place overall. Sabathia has since scored only 1.0 additional Box-Toppers point and now has 173.3 for his career.

The last time there was any change in membership in the ‘all-time’ top 10 pitcher list was September 2010, when Sabathia rose onto the list with 137.5 Box-Toppers points, passing then-Yankees pitcher Javier Vazquez, with 135.6.

While there are three active pitchers on the top 10 list—Sabathia, Johan Santana of the Orioles and Hudson—Hudson is the only pitcher who is both active and not on the disabled list. Sabathia and Santana are both likely out for the season.

Randy Johnson leads the list with 278.8 Box-Toppers points and is the overall ‘all-time’ Box-Toppers leader (again, since 1995, when record keeping began).

What are those numbers after players' names?

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw tops Box-Toppers player rankings at All-Star break

Shawn Plank July 15, 2014

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw remains atop Box-Toppers player rankings at the All-Star break.

Kershaw has 18.1 Box-Toppers points. Last year, he led all players at the end of the season with 21.7.

Top players
Through Sunday, July 13





  
    

    OVERALL LEADERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Kershaw, Clayton 2494
    pi sp
    lad nl
    18.1
  

    2
    Scherzer, Max 2588
    pi sp
    det al
    16.1
  

    3
    Wainwright, Adam 2150
    pi sp
    stl nl
    14.0
  

    4
    Bumgarner, Madison 2753
    pi sp
    sf nl
    13.5
  

    5
    Kazmir, Scott 1947
    pi sp
    oak al
    13.1
  

    6
    Hernandez, Felix 2064
    pi sp
    sea al
    12.8
  

    7
    Richards, Garrett 3042
    pi sp
    ana al
    12.7
  

    8
    Cueto, Johnny 2400
    pi sp
    cin nl
    12.7
  

    9
    Tanaka, Masahiro 3305
    pi sp
    nyy al
    12.7
  

    10
    Tulowitzki, Troy 2308
    ss
    col nl
    11.6
  

    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    AL PITCHERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Scherzer, Max 2588
    pi sp
    det al
    16.1
  

    2
    Kazmir, Scott 1947
    pi sp
    oak al
    13.1
  

    3
    Hernandez, Felix 2064
    pi sp
    sea al
    12.8
  

    4
    Richards, Garrett 3042
    pi sp
    ana al
    12.7
  

    5
    Tanaka, Masahiro 3305
    pi sp
    nyy al
    12.7
  

    6
    Price, David 2593
    pi sp
    tb al
    10.4
  

    7
    Kluber, Corey 3200
    pi sp
    cle al
    10.4
  

    8
    Sale, Chris 2806
    pi sp
    chi al
    10.0
  

    9
    Darvish, Yu 3003
    pi sp
    tex al
    9.4
  

    10
    Hutchison, Drew 3038
    pi sp
    tor al
    9.0
  

    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    AL BATTERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Abreu, Jose 3308
    1b
    chi al
    9.5
  

    2
    Encarnacion, Edwin 2098
    1b dh lf
    tor al
    8.0
  

    3
    Cabrera, Miguel 1776
    1b
    det al
    7.5
  

    4
    Donaldson, Josh 3144
    3b
    oak al
    6.5
  

    5
    Cespedes, Yoenis 3008
    lf
    oak al
    6.5
  

    6
    Colabello, Chris 3235
    1b dh rf
    min al
    6.2
  

    7
    Aybar, Erick 2416
    ss
    ana al
    6.0
  

    8
    Hunter, Torii 1190
    rf
    det al
    5.5
  

    9
    Ramirez, Alexei 2537
    ss
    chi al
    5.5
  

    10
    Suzuki, Kurt 2344
    ca
    min al
    5.0
  

    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    NL PITCHERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Kershaw, Clayton 2494
    pi sp
    lad nl
    18.1
  

    2
    Wainwright, Adam 2150
    pi sp
    stl nl
    14.0
  

    3
    Bumgarner, Madison 2753
    pi sp
    sf nl
    13.5
  

    4
    Cueto, Johnny 2400
    pi sp
    cin nl
    12.7
  

    5
    Teheran, Julio 3176
    pi sp
    atl nl
    11.4
  

    6
    Lincecum, Tim 2288
    pi sp
    sf nl
    10.4
  

    7
    Greinke, Zack 1871
    pi sp
    lad nl
    10.1
  

    8
    Strasburg, Stephen 2736
    pi sp
    dc nl
    9.0
  

    9
    Colon, Bartolo
    pi sp
    nym nl
    8.7
  

    10
    Alvarez, Henderson 2951
    pi sp
    fla nl
    8.7
  

    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    NL BATTERS
    POS
    TEAM
    BTP
  

    1
    Tulowitzki, Troy 2308
    ss
    col nl
    11.6
  

    2
    Freeman, Freddie 2887
    1b
    atl nl
    7.7
  

    3
    McCutchen, Andrew 2637
    cf
    pit nl
    6.5
  

    4
    Rizzo, Anthony 3063
    1b
    chi nl
    5.5
  

    5
    Morse, Michael 2020
    lf
    sf nl
    5.5
  

    6
    Upton, Justin 2411
    lf
    atl nl
    5.2
  

    7
    Duda, Lucas 2818
    1b
    nym nl
    5.0
  

    8
    Stanton, Giancarlo 2737
    rf
    fla nl
    4.7
  

    9
    Murphy, Daniel 2589
    2b
    nym nl
    4.5
  

    10
    Holliday, Matt 1836
    lf
    stl nl
    4.5
  

BTP: Box-Toppers points 

Leaders in the other three categories also remain unchanged since the last player rankings report July 3:

• Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer is still American League pitching leader with 16.1 Box-Toppers points. He remains in second place overall.

• Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies is still National League batting leader with 11.6 Box-Toppers points. He falls from ninth to 10th place among all players.

• Jose Abreu of the White Sox is still top AL batter with 9.5 Box-Toppers points. He is in 17th place among all players.

What are those numbers after players' names?

Trade boosts Oakland Athletics to top of Box-Toppers team rankings at All-Star break

Shawn Plank July 15, 2014

The Oakland Athletics, largely on the strength of their trade to acquire two starting pitchers from the Chicago Cubs, have risen to the top of Box-Toppers team rankings at the All-Star break.

Top 10 teams
Here are Box-Toppers' Top 10 teams, through the games of Sunday, July 13. The column BTP shows the number of Box-Toppers points players on the team have accumulated so far this season. The column BTP/wk shows have many points teams have accumulated since the last team rankings report July 3.





  
    

713
    

Teams
    

BTP
    
BTP
/wk
    Last 
wk 
rank
  

    1
    Athletics
    79.0
    19.1
    2
  

    2
    Dodgers
    69.7
    8.1
    1
  

    3
    Angels
    69.5
    11.0
    5
  

    4
    Giants
    64.3
    5.7
    4
  

    5
    Blue Jays
    61.3
    2.0
    3
  

    6
    Mariners
    60.7
    3.0
    6
  

    7
    Reds
    60.6
    9.5
    12
  

    8
    Brewers
    60.6
    3.0
    7
  

    9
    Cardinals
    60.5
    6.0
    8
  

    10
    Braves
    60.2
    6.0
    10
  

BTP: Box-Toppers points

Athletics players have accumulated 79.0 Box-Toppers points, rising from second place at the time of the last team rankings report July 3 to regain the top spot. They pass the Los Angeles Dodgers, the leader at the July 3 report. The Dodgers have 69.7 Box-Toppers points, dipping to second place, still leading among all National League teams.

The Athletics jumped in total Box-Toppers points when on July 5, they acquired starting pitchers Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija from the Cubs. Hammel has 8.7 Box-Toppers points and Samardzija has 4.0. At the time, the trade gave the Athletics a net gain of 10.7 Box-Toppers points, boosting them to the top of team rankings and pushing the Cubs to the bottom—30th place.

The trade helped make the Athletics the hottest team since the last team rankings report on July 3. They picked up 19.1 Box-Toppers points over that period.

The Athletics are led by pitchers Scott Kazmir (13.1 Box-Toppers points, fifth place among all players) and newly-acquired Hammel (his 8.7 Box-Toppers points puts him at 11th place among AL pitchers, even though all his points were earned while pitching in the NL for the Cubs).

The Athletics also have baseball’s best winning percentage (.621). The Athletics previously led in Box-Toppers team rankings at the weekly June 19 report.

The Dodgers remain the top NL team for the second week with 69.7 Box-Toppers points. They fall from first to second place overall.

The Dodgers are led by starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (18.1 Box-Toppers points, overall player rankings leader) and Zack Greinke (10.1 Box-Toppers points, seventh place among NL pitchers).

The Dodgers have NL’s best winning percentage (.557).

The Cincinnati Reds rise into the top 10 at the All-Star break. They picked up a NL-high 9.5 Box-Toppers points since the last report July 3, giving them 60.6 for the season, rising from 12th to seventh in team rankings. The Detroit Tigers fell from the top 10 list—with 60.1 Box-Toppers points, they fell from ninth to 11th.

As previously mentioned, the Chicago Cubs dropped to the bottom of Box-Toppers team rankings, with a net loss of points in the trade with the Athletics. They lost 7.2 Box-Toppers points since the last report July 3, giving them 38.7 for the season. The previous report’s 30th-ranked team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, rose to 28th place, picking up 6.4 Box-Toppers points, giving them 47.5 for the season.

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Top 100 list 2014

Box-Toppers game scores of AL All-Star players

Top 10 pitchers 'all-time'

Top players

Top 10 teams

Box-Toppers

Tracking who most helps their teams win the most games, based on box score stats. A method to measure & compare baseball's top players.