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These six players were selected for the 16-member All-MLB First Team and were also Box-Toppers’ choices for the All-MLB team: Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres, Aaron Judge of the Yankees, Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer, Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole and White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks.

Six Box-Toppers points leaders among players named to 2021 All-MLB First Team

Shawn Plank November 24, 2021

Six Box-Toppers points leaders are among players selected for 2021’s 16-member “All-MLB” team announced Tuesday.

Another three Box-Toppers leaders were chosen for the “All-MLB” Second Team.

Comeback Player winners Mancini, Posey rank far outside Box-Toppers’ top 25 most improved players

Shawn Plank November 23, 2021

Trey Mancini of the Orioles and Buster Posey of the Giants were named Comeback Players of the Year for 2021 Monday.

Both ranked far outside Box-Toppers’ 25 most-improved players list for 2021 and neither were among Box-Toppers’ top candidate in either league for the player who had the biggest bounce back to a successful season this year.

Awards wrap-up: Box-Toppers points leaders win none of 6 major postseason awards in 2021

Shawn Plank November 22, 2021

Box-Toppers points leaders won none of the six major postseason awards for 2021.

Baseball writers have awarded Most Valuable Player, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in both leagues and Box-Toppers leaders failed to win any of them.

Shohei Ohtani of the Angels and Bryce Harper of the Phillies win the American League and National League Most Valuable Player awards. However, Jose Ramirez of the Indians led AL batters and Nick Castellanos of the Reds led NL batters in 2021 Box-Toppers points.

Ohtani, Harper win MVP Awards ahead of Box-Toppers batting leaders Ramirez, Castellanos

Shawn Plank November 18, 2021

Shohei Ohtani of the Angels and Bryce Harper of the Phillies were voted 2021 Most Valuable Players Thursday, ahead of other Box-Toppers points leaders.

Ohtani, who ranked third in Box-Toppers points among all American League players with 16.1, was voted AL MVP. Harper, who ranked 28th among National League batters with 5.5 Box-Toppers points, was voted NL MVP.

Robbie Ray of the Blue Jays and Corbin Burnes of the Brewers were voted winners of the 2021 Cy Young Awards. They beat Box-Toppers top-ranked pitchers, Gerrit Cole of the Yankees in the American League and Max Scherzer of the Dodgers in the National League.

Ray, Burnes win 2021 Cy Young Awards over Box-Toppers leaders Cole, Scherzer

Shawn Plank November 18, 2021

Robbie Ray of the Blue Jays and Corbin Burnes of the Brewers won 2021 Cy Young Awards over Box-Toppers’ two top-ranked pitchers for 2021.

Ray won the American League Cy Young Award after ranking second in 2021 Box-Toppers points among AL pitchers, behind Gerrit Cole of the Yankees. Burnes won the National League Cy Young Award after ranking fourth in 2021 Box-Toppers points among NL pitchers, behind Max Scherzer of the Dodgers.

Randy Arozarena of the Rays and Jonathan India of the Reds were voted Rookies of the Year. They beat Box-Toppers top-ranked rookies, Bobby Dalbec of the Red Sox in the American League and Trevor Rogers of the Marlins in the National League.

Box-Toppers’ top-ranked rookies Dalbec, Rogers, lose Rookie of the Year honors to Arozarena, India

Shawn Plank November 16, 2021

Randy Arozarena of the Rays and Jonathan India of the Reds were voted 2021 Rookies of the Year by baseball writers.

Neither were among Box-Toppers’ top-ranked rookies in 2021. Arozarena was Box-Toppers’ eighth-ranked American League rookie and India was Box-Toppers’ second-ranked National League rookie.

A look at Box-Toppers’ choices for All-MLB team

Shawn Plank November 15, 2021

Here is a look at Box-Toppers choices for the All-MLB Team for 2021.

Unlike the midseason All-Star Game choices, players are chosen regardless of league, meaning the All-MLB Teams will likely be a mix of both American League and National League players. Box-Toppers did choose end-of-season 2021 All-Star teams based on league in October.

These five players were 2021 Silver Slugger Award winners and also led their league’s position in Box-Toppers points for the season: Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox, Aaron Judge of the Yankees, Ozzie Albies of the Braves, Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres and Nick Castellanos of the Reds.

How 2021 Silver Sluggers winners fared in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank November 12, 2021

Only five of the 17 batters winning Silver Slugger Awards Thursday also were among the leaders at their positions in 2021 Box-Toppers point totals.

The awards are given to the top batter in each position in both leagues, voted on by Major League Baseball coaches and managers.

A look at how 2021 Reliever of the Year winners Hendriks, Hader fared in Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank November 11, 2021

White Sox closing pitcher Liam Hendriks led American League relievers in Box-Toppers points and also was named AL’s 2021 Reliever of the Year.

But the National League winner, Brewers reliever Josh Hader, ranked sixth among NL closers in Box-Toppers season player rankings.

Hank Aaron Award winners trailed most other finalists in 2021 Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank November 10, 2021

The two players who won the Hank Aaron Award, given to the best offensive performer in each league, trailed most of the award finalists in 2021 Box-Toppers points.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays and Bryce Harper of the Phillies were chosen Tuesday as winners by a panel of eight Hall of Fame players and a Major League Baseball fan vote.

A look at 2021 awards finalists and how they fared in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank November 9, 2021

Box-Toppers’ two top-ranked pitchers are finalists for 2021 Cy Young Awards and Box-Toppers’ top-ranked National League rookie is a finalist for NL Rookie of the Year.

However, Box-Toppers’ top batters are not among the finalists for 2021 Most Valuable Player Awards.

Max Scherzer is only 2021 Box-Toppers points leader to win a Players Choice Award

Shawn Plank November 7, 2021

Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer is the only Box-Toppers points leader to win one of nine Players Choice Awards for 2021 as voted by the players’ union.

Scherzer, who led all players in 2021 Box-Toppers points with 25.1, was voted National League Outstanding Pitcher.

A Box-Toppers comparison of Braves title teams from 1995 and 2021

Shawn Plank November 5, 2021

The Braves who won the 2021 World Series seem very different from the last Braves team that won the World Series in 1995. Comparing how each team fared in Box-Toppers points and rankings in their respective seasons.

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

Shawn Plank November 3, 2021

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

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

Marwin Gonzalez tops players in World Series Game 5 as Astros hold off Braves

Shawn Plank November 1, 2021

Marwin Gonzalez of the Astros is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Sunday’s World Series Game 5.

The Houston Astros win 9-5, holding off the Atlanta Braves, who still lead the best-of-seven game series, 3-2.

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

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.