Pitchers are Box-Toppers points team leaders on 27 of 30 clubs; batters lead 3 teams

Shawn Plank July 19, 2024

On 27 of the 30 Major League clubs, pitchers are the team’s leader in 2024 Box-Toppers points. Batters lead the other three teams.

Pitchers are dominating much the way they are winning the overwhelming majority of Box-Toppers points this season compared to batters. Pitchers are winning 63 percent of all points this season compared to 37 percent for batters. The all-time record-low share of points earned by batters is 38.1 percent set in 2022. Last year, in 2023, batters won 40.7 percent of all points.

Dodgers lead 2024 Box-Toppers preseason team rankings; Rays top AL teams

Shawn Plank March 25, 2024

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the top-ranked team in Box-Toppers’ 2024 preseason rankings.

Meanwhile, the New York Mets made the biggest offseason improvement in players’ accumulated Box-Toppers points, while the San Diego Padres saw the biggest decline.

Braves, Astros, Mariners among leaders in Box-Toppers offseason team rankings

Shawn Plank January 18, 2024

The Atlanta Braves are Box-Toppers’ top-ranked team going into 2024, with a roster mostly intact from 2023 when they had baseball’s best record.

Meanwhile, the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are Box-Toppers’ top two American League teams, with the Mariners having one of the best offseason improvements of any team so far. And also, while the Los Angeles Dodgers have made big offseason splashes adding Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Teoscar Hernandez, their offseason ranking has actually fallen from third place last season to fourth place now.

How 2023 Silver Sluggers winners fared in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank December 27, 2023

Six of the 20 batters winning Silver Slugger Awards in 2023 were also among the leaders at their positions in 2023 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. Box-Toppers, analyzing traditional box scores, tracks which player most helps his team win the most games, awarding points for the top player in each game.

Four Box-Toppers points leaders among players named to 2023 All-MLB First Team

Shawn Plank December 21, 2023

Only four Box-Toppers points leaders are among players selected for 2023’s 16-member “All-MLB” team announced this month. Three other Box-Toppers leaders were chosen for the “All-MLB” Second Team.

The All-MLB team players are not selected based on their affiliation with American League or National League. Rather, all players are chosen regardless of league as “First Team” or “Second Team” players.

Shohei Ohtani of the Angels and Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves were voted 2023 Most Valuable Player award winners. While Ohtani was also Box-Toppers’ choice as AL MVP, Pete Alonso of the Mets was Box-Toppers’ NL MVP leader over Acuña.

Box-Toppers’ pick Ohtani wins AL MVP, but Acuña wins NL MVP over our pick, Alonso

Shawn Plank November 16, 2023

Shohei Ohtani of the Angels was voted 2023 American League Most Valuable Player Wednesday. He was also Box-Toppers’ choice as AL MVP.

However, in the National League, Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Braves was voted MVP—he finished second in Box-Toppers’ NL MVP ballot behind Pete Alonso of the Mets.

Box-Toppers’ MVP Awards: Ohtani reigns over AL; Alonso edges Acuña in NL

Shawn Plank November 11, 2023

Shohei Ohtani of the Angels, favorite for American League Most Valuable Player, is also Box-Toppers’ choice for the award. But Box-Toppers’ choice for NL MVP, Pete Alonso of the Mets, is not among the finalists for the award, expected to go to Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Braves, who is second on Box-Toppers’ NL MVP ballot.

Reliever Sborz tops players in World Series Game 5 as Rangers win title over D-backs

Shawn Plank November 2, 2023

Closing pitcher Josh Sborz is Box-Toppers Player of the Game Wednesday as the Rangers defeat the Diamondbacks to win the 2023 World Series in five games.

The Texas Rangers defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 to win the best-of-seven game series, 4-1.

Semien tops players in Tuesday’s World Series Game 4, as Rangers take 3-1 series lead

Shawn Plank November 1, 2023

Marcus Semien of the Rangers is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Tuesday’s World Series Game 4.

The Texas Rangers win 11-7 to lead the best-of-seven game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-1.

Rangers hold Box-Toppers points edge over Diamondbacks in 2023 World Series

Shawn Plank October 26, 2023

The Texas Rangers hold significant Box-Toppers points advantages over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 World Series.

The Rangers finished first in Box-Toppers team rankings for the season while the Diamondbacks finished 14th, lowest among all postseason teams.

ALCS Preview: Astros favored over higher-ranked Rangers due to Texas’ injury woes

Shawn Plank October 14, 2023

Though the Texas Rangers finished first overall in Box-Toppers team rankings for 2023, Box-Toppers favors the Houston Astros to beat them in the American League Championship Series.

Box-Toppers’ AL Division Series preview: Rangers vs. Orioles, Twins vs. Astros

Shawn Plank October 6, 2023

Both American League Division Series begin Saturday.

The Texas Rangers face the Baltimore Orioles in one best-of-five game series and the Minnesota Twins face the Houston Astros in the other. The top two AL seeds, the Orioles (first) and the Astros (second) received byes from the first round of playoffs and face the winners of the best-of-three Wild Card series played this week.

A Box-Toppers preview of the four Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday, Oct. 3

Shawn Plank October 3, 2023

The Wild Card round of Major League Baseball’s postseason begins Tuesday with four best-of-three series.

Here is a Box-Toppers look at the eight teams competing in the four Wild Card round series.

Rangers finish atop Box-Toppers team rankings despite only earning Wild Card spot

Shawn Plank October 2, 2023

The Texas Rangers finish 2023 atop Box-Toppers team rankings even though they only qualified for the postseason as the second-seeded American League Wild Card team.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves maintain their lead among National League teams, finishing second overall. Plus, the San Diego Padres, who fell out of playoff contention, finish the season as the hottest team over the final days of the season.

Rangers persist, leading Box-Toppers team rankings despite uncertain playoff spot

Shawn Plank September 22, 2023

It doesn’t seem possible or correct, but the Texas Rangers persist in leading Box-Toppers team rankings for the eighth straight week.

Teams that could challenge the Rangers for top spot in rankings simply have not been gaining ground on the team that is struggling to cling to a final American League Wild Card playoff spot.

Texas Rangers spot atop Box-Toppers team rankings seems to be a mirage

Shawn Plank September 15, 2023

The Texas Rangers maintain the lead in Box-Toppers team rankings, slightly improving their position from last week, but the top ranking continues to seem undeserved.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves continue to lead all National League teams and the Milwaukee Brewers are the week’s hottest team.

Rangers still lead Box-Toppers team rankings, though currently outside playoff picture

Shawn Plank September 8, 2023

The Texas Rangers still lead Box-Toppers team rankings this week, despite falling outside the dozen teams that would currently qualify for a playoff spot.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves continue to gain on the Rangers, leading all National League teams. Plus, the Chicago Cubs are the week’s hottest team.

Rangers still lead Box-Toppers team rankings despite falling to 3rd in AL West

Shawn Plank September 1, 2023

The Texas Rangers still hold a narrowing lead in Box-Toppers team rankings this week, despite a terrible two-week stretch that has them falling to third place in the American League West Division.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves continue to gain on the Rangers, leading all National League teams. Plus, the Cincinnati Reds, in part on the strength of waiver deadline acquisitions, are the week’s hottest team.

Texas Rangers have worst week of all teams but still lead Box-Toppers team rankings

Shawn Plank August 25, 2023

Despite a seven-game losing streak and having the worst week of all 30 Major League Baseball teams, the Texas Rangers maintain the Box-Toppers team rankings lead for the fourth straight week.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves continue to lead National League teams and the Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers are the two hottest teams of the week.

Rangers lead Box-Toppers team rankings for 3rd week; Braves, Dodgers are hottest teams

Shawn Plank August 18, 2023

The Texas Rangers maintain the lead in Box-Toppers team rankings for the third straight week.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves continue to lead National League teams and the Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers are the two hottest teams of the week.