Verlander, deGrom win 2019 Cy Young Awards over Box-Toppers leaders Cole, Strasburg

Shawn Plank November 14, 2019

Gerrit Cole of the Astros, who led all players in 2019 Box-Toppers points and had the fourth-highest single-season point total in Box-Toppers’ 25-year tracking history, fell short of winning baseball’s top pitching prize Wednesday.

Teammate Justin Verlander, who ranked second overall in Box-Toppers points, edged Cole to win the 2019 American League Cy Young Award. Cole finished second in voting. In the National League, Jacob deGrom of the Mets won the Cy Young Award for the second straight year. He finished second among NL pitchers in Box-Toppers points behind leader Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals.

Padres’ Chris Paddack, Box-Toppers’ dominant rookie for 2019, receives no Rookie of the Year votes; Alonso, Alvarez receive rookie honors

Shawn Plank November 12, 2019

Box-Toppers’ top-ranked 2019 rookie—far and away the top-ranked rookie—did not even receive a single vote in baseball writers’ Rookie of the Year voting.

Padres pitcher Chris Paddack had nearly twice as many 2019 Box-Toppers points as any other player who made their Box-Toppers debut during the season. His 15.8 Box-Toppers points, in fact, ranked 14th among all players and eighth among all National League pitchers, just ahead of NL Cy Young Award finalist Max Scherzer of the Nationals (15.4 points, ninth among NL pitchers).

A look at 2019 baseball awards finalists and how they fared in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank November 11, 2019

The players who played the most key roles in helping their teams win the most games in 2019, for the most part, are not among the finalists for baseball’s postseason awards.

Gerrit Cole of the Astros, who led American League pitchers in Box-Toppers points with 32.2, is one of three finalists for the AL Cy Young Award. He is the only Box-Toppers point leader in any of the six categories to even be named as a finalist.

Box-Toppers picks Astros’ Gerrit Cole for AL Cy Young & MVP: A look at our postseason awards ballot

Shawn Plank September 30, 2019

Box-Toppers is casting a vote for the American League Cy Young Award to Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole.

We are also casting our vote for AL Most Valuable Player to … Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole.

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

Shawn Plank September 30, 2019

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

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

Marlins’ Yamamoto tops players for Thursday, Sept. 26; Nationals’ Strasburg increases lead among NL pitchers

Shawn Plank September 27, 2019

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

Also Thursday, Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg increases his lead among National League pitchers in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Brewers pitcher Josh Hader rises to eighth place in player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Astros’ Gerrit Cole, top player for Tuesday, Sept. 24, becomes 4th to reach 30 Box-Toppers points in a season

Shawn Plank September 25, 2019

Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, increasing his lead in season player rankings and becoming just the fourth player to reach 30 Box-Toppers points in a season.

Cole struck out 14 over seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks, in the 3-0 win over the Mariners.

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

Shawn Plank September 13, 2019

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

Gleyber Torres of the Yankees rises this week to lead American League batters in 2019 Box-Toppers points, passing previous leader Nelson Cruz of the Twins.

Blue Jays’ Trent Thornton tops players for Wednesday, Sept. 11; Padres’ Paddack rises to 8th in player rankings

Shawn Plank September 12, 2019

Blue Jays pitcher Trent Thornton is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Wednesday, Padres pitcher Chris Paddack rises to eighth in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning National League Player of the Day honors.

Indians’ Mike Clevinger tops players for Thursday, Aug. 29; Padres’ Paddack tops NL players

Shawn Plank August 30, 2019

Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Clevinger struck out 14 over eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits and no walks, in the 2-0 win over the Tigers.

Astros’ Justin Verlander leads Box-Toppers player rankings for 10th week

Shawn Plank July 26, 2019

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander maintains the lead in Box-Toppers weekly team rankings report for the 10th straight week.

Meanwhile, Albert Pujols of the Angels rises to lead American League batters in Box-Toppers season player rankings this week, passing last week’s leader, Alex Bregman of the Astros.

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

Shawn Plank July 19, 2019

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

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

Padres’ Paddack tops players for Wednesday, July 17, rises to 7th in player rankings; Astros’ Cole rises to 5th

Shawn Plank July 18, 2019

Padres pitcher Chris Paddack is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to seventh in season player rankings.

Also Wednesday, Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole rises to fifth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Dodgers, Red Sox have most players—six–among Box-Toppers’ top 100 for 2019 at All-Star break

Shawn Plank July 9, 2019

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox have the most players—six each—among the top 100 in Box-Toppers’ 2019 player rankings at the All-Star break.

The Dodgers also are Box-Toppers’ top-ranked team going into the All-Star break, with its players accumulating 72.6 Box-Toppers points this season. The defending World Series champion Red Sox, while they have as many representatives among the top 100 players, rank lower—in 13th place overall, with 55.9 Box-Toppers points.

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

Shawn Plank July 8, 2019

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

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

Nationals’ Scherzer tops players for Saturday, July 6, rises to 3rd in ’19 player rankings, 6th in ‘all-time’ career points

Shawn Plank July 7, 2019

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to third place in season player rankings and sixth place on Box-Toppers’ “all-time” career points list.

Also Saturday, two other players rise in Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 list after earning Player of the Game honors—Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole rises to sixth place and Indians pitcher Shane Bieber rises to seventh place.

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

Shawn Plank July 5, 2019

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

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

Orioles’ Cashner tops players for Saturday, June 29; Diamondbacks’ Grienke rises to 4th in player rankings

Shawn Plank June 30, 2019

Orioles pitcher Andrew Cashner is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Saturday, Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke rises to fourth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. He also becomes the fifth player to reach 200 career Box-Toppers points since player tracking began in 1995.

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

Shawn Plank June 28, 2019

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

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

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

Shawn Plank June 7, 2019

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

Also this week, all four main category leaders maintain their leads from last week: Verlander continues to lead American League pitchers, Brewers pitcher Josh Hader continues to lead National League pitchers, Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers continues to lead NL batters and Joey Gallo of the Rangers continues to lead AL batters.