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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.

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, 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.

Red Sox’ Rodriguez tops players for Thursday, Sept. 19; Twins’ Cruz regains AL batter rankings lead

Shawn Plank September 20, 2019

Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Thursday, Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger rises to eighth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Nelson Cruz of the Twins regains the Box-Toppers points lead among American League batters after earning AL Batter of the Day honors.

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.

Astros’ Gerrit Cole tops players for Sunday, Sept. 8, regaining season player rankings lead

Shawn Plank September 9, 2019

Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and regains the lead in season player rankings, one day after losing the lead.

Also Sunday, Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer rises to seventh place in Box-Toppers season player rankings and Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger rises to eighth after both earned Player of the Game honors.

In addition Sunday, Gleyber Torres of the Yankees rises to lead American League batters in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning AL Batter 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.

Rangers’ Kolby Allard tops players for Saturday, Aug. 24; Phillies’ Dickerson tops NL players

Shawn Plank August 25, 2019

Rangers pitcher Kolby Allard is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, making his Box-Toppers debut.

Allard struck out eight over 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and no walks, in the 4-0 win over the White Sox.

Mariners’ Yusei Kikuchi tops players for Sunday, Aug. 18; Cubs’ Quintana tops NL players

Shawn Plank August 19, 2019

Mariners pitcher Yusei Kikuchi is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Kikuchi pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout, allowing two hits and one walk, in the 7-0 win over the Blue Jays.

Astros’ Justin Verlander leads Box-Toppers season player rankings report for 12th straight week

Shawn Plank August 9, 2019

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander maintains the lead in Box-Toppers weekly team rankings report for the 12th straight week.

Meanwhile, Nelson Cruz of the Twins rises to lead American League batters in Box-Toppers season player rankings, passing last week’s leader, Alex Bregman of the Astros.

Red Sox’ Chris Sale tops players for Thursday, Aug. 8, reaching 10 Box-Toppers points for 8th straight season

Shawn Plank August 9, 2019

Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, reaching 10 Box-Toppers points for the eighth straight season.

Sale struck out 13 over eight scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks, in the 3-0 win over the Angels.

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.

Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg tops players for Wednesday, July 3, rises to 10th in player rankings

Shawn Plank July 4, 2019

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to 10th place in season player rankings.

Also Wednesday, Mike Trout of the Angels rises to lead American League batters in 2019 Box-Toppers points after earning AL Batter of the Day honors.

Indians’ Mike Clevinger tops players for Sunday, April 7; Dodgers’ Bellinger regains player rankings lead

Shawn Plank April 8, 2019

Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings.

Also Sunday, Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers regained the lead in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning National League Batter of the Day honors, his fourth Player of the Game honor already this season.

Plus, two other players rise in Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 after earning Player of the Game honors Sunday—Brewers pitcher Josh Hader rises to third place and Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin rises to 10th.

Indians’ Mike Clevinger tops players for Monday, April 1; Diamondbacks’ Duplantier tops NL players

Shawn Plank April 2, 2019

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

Clevinger struck out 12 over seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit and three walks, in the 5-3 win over the White Sox. Clevinger did not earn the win, picking up a no-decision, because the White Sox took the lead after he exited, before the Indians regained the lead.

A look at Box-Toppers’ top 100 players for 2018

Shawn Plank November 3, 2018

Blake Snell tops Box-Toppers list of the top 100 players in 2018.

The Rays pitcher had 27.2 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, which is the 12th-highest single-season point total since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began.

Red Sox' Holt, Astros' McHugh, Dodgers' Machado top players in Monday's league Division Series games

Shawn Plank October 9, 2018

Brock Holt of the Red Sox was one of three Box-Toppers Player of the Game honorees in Monday’s three league Division Series games.

Holt hit for the cycle, going 4-for-5, scoring three times and driving in five runs, as the Red Sox beat the Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

Brewers’ Burnes, Braves’ Acuna top players in Sunday's NL Division Series games

Shawn Plank October 8, 2018

Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Braves are Sunday’s Box-Toppers top players in a pair of National League Division Series games.

Braves’ Mike Foltynewicz tops players for Friday, Sept. 28; Twins’ Berrios rises to 9th in player rankings

Shawn Plank September 29, 2018

Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Friday, Twins pitcher Jose Berrios rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning American League Player of the Day honors.

Cubs’ Jon Lester tops players for Saturday, Sept. 15; Blue Jays’ Reid-Foley tops AL players

Shawn Plank September 16, 2018

Cubs pitcher Jon Lester is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Lester struck out nine over seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, in the 1-0 win over the Reds.

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.