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.

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.

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.

Giants’ Webb, Brewers’ Burnes among top players in Friday’s four league division series games

Shawn Plank October 9, 2021

In four league division series playoff games Friday, these are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners: Giants pitcher Logan Webb, Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes, Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck and Kyle Tucker of the Astros.

Box-Toppers’ NL Division Series previews: Braves vs. Brewers, Dodgers vs. Giants

Shawn Plank October 8, 2021

Both National League Division Series begin Friday.

The NL East champion Atlanta Braves face the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers in one best-of-five game series and the NL Wild Card champion Los Angeles Dodgers take on the San Francisco Giants, champions of the NL West in the other series.

Phillies’ Suarez tops players for Saturday, Sept. 25; Burnes, Ray rise in player rankings top 10

Shawn Plank September 26, 2021

Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Saturday, two players rise in Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 after both earn Player of the Game honors: Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes rises to fourth place and Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray rises to fifth. Plus, Nick Castellanos of the Reds extends his 2021 Box-Toppers points lead among National League batters after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.

Brewers’ Burnes tops players for Saturday, Sept. 11, rising to 6th in player rankings

Shawn Plank September 12, 2021

Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to sixth place in season player rankings.

Also Saturday, Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler maintains his third-place spot in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Yankees’ Cole leads player rankings for 3rd week, Reds’ Castellanos regains lead among NL batters

Shawn Plank September 3, 2021

Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole leads in Box-Toppers season player rankings for the third straight week.

Meanwhile, Nick Castellanos of the Reds rises to lead National League batters in Box-Toppers rankings. Two other category leaders remain the same: Max Scherzer of the Dodgers continues to lead NL pitchers and Shohei Ohtani of the Angels continues to lead American League batters.

Brewers’ Burnes tops players for Monday, Aug. 30; Burnes, Urias rise in player rankings top 10

Shawn Plank August 31, 2021

Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to seventh place in season player rankings.

Also Monday, Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias rises to 10th place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Yankees’ Gerrit Cole maintains Box-Toppers player rankings lead, Scherzer rises to lead NL pitchers

Shawn Plank August 27, 2021

Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole leads in Box-Toppers season player rankings for the second straight week.

Meanwhile, Max Scherzer of the Dodgers rises to lead National League pitchers in Box-Toppers rankings. Both league batting leaders remain the same since last week—Shohei Ohtani of the Angels leads American League batters and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres leads NL batters.

Yankees’ Gerrit Cole regains lead in Box-Toppers season player rankings this week

Shawn Plank August 20, 2021

Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole regains the lead in Box-Toppers season player rankings this week, passing last week’s leader, Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler.

Meanwhile, Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres rises to lead National League batters in Box-Toppers rankings. Wheeler maintains his lead among NL pitchers and Shohei Ohtani of the Angels maintains his lead among American League batters.

Indians’ Morgan tops players for Tuesday, Aug. 17; Marquez, Burnes rise in player rankings top 10

Shawn Plank August 18, 2021

Indians pitcher Eli Morgan is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Tuesday, Rockies pitcher German Marquez maintains fourth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes rises to ninth in season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Indians’ McKenzie tops players for Sunday, Aug. 15; Padres’ Tatis rises to lead NL batter rankings

Shawn Plank August 16, 2021

Indians pitcher Triston McKenzie is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Sunday, Fernando Tatis Jr. rises to lead National League batters in 2021 Box-Toppers points after earning NL Player of the Day honors.

Phillies’ Zack Wheeler rises to lead Box-Toppers weekly player rankings report, passing deGrom

Shawn Plank August 13, 2021

Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler rises to lead Box-Toppers player rankings this week, passing Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom, who had led since late June.

Meanwhile, Adam Duvall of the Braves rises to lead National League batters in Box-Toppers rankings. Both American League leaders remain the same as last week—Gerrit Cole of the Yankees leads AL pitchers and Shohei Ohtani of the Angels leads AL batters.

Brewers’ Burnes tops players for Wednesday, Aug. 11; Red Sox’ Eovaldi tops AL players

Shawn Plank August 12, 2021

Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Burnes struck out 15 over eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits and no walks, in the 10-0 win over the Cubs.

Indians’ Quantrill tops players for Friday, Aug 6; Marquez, Bassitt rise in player rankings top 10

Shawn Plank August 7, 2021

Indians pitcher Cal Quantrill is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Friday, two players rise in Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 list after earning Player of the Game honors—Rockies pitcher German Marquez rises to third place and Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt rises to seventh place.