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

Here are 2019 All-Star team selections, followed by lists of players who Box-Toppers deems “worthy but unchosen” for the game. Starting batters for both leagues are shown at top, followed by batting reserves and pitchers selected by managers and coaches. The “Worthy but unchosen” players are listed at the bottom. Players' Box-Toppers point (BTP) total for 2019 is shown as well as their Rank among all players in Box-Toppers points for the season. (Rosters are current as of Friday, July 5.)

American League National League
Starters Starters
Pos Player Team BTP Rank Pos Player Team BTP Rank
CA Gary Sanchez Yankees 2.0 262 CA Wilson Contreras Cubs 2.0 265
1B Carlos Santana Indians 2.5 223 1B Freddie Freeman Braves 4.5 100
2B DJ LeMahieu Yankees 2.5 221 2B Ketel Marte Diamondbacks 6.0 50
3B Alex Bregman Astros 5.5 63 3B Nolan Arenado Rockies 8.0 23
SS Jorge Polanco Twins 2.5 237 SS Javier Baez Cubs 1.5 325
OF Mike Trout Angels 6.7 34 OF Christian Yelich Brewers 6.5 37
OF George Springer Astros 2.7 205 OF Cody Bellinger Dodgers 9.2 17
OF Michael Brantley Astros 0.0 828 OF Ronald Acuña Jr. Braves 2.7 202
DH # Hunter Pence Rangers 4.5 103
Reserves Reserves
Pos Player Team BTP Rank Pos Player Team BTP Rank
CA James McCann White Sox 3.0 187 CA Yasmani Grandal Brewers 1.0 397
1B Jose Abreu White Sox 5.5 64 CA J.T. Realmuto Phillies 2.5 218
1B Daniel Vogelbach Mariners 4.5 106 1B Pete Alonso Mets 3.5 164
2B # Tommy La Stella Angels 2.0 274 1B Josh Bell Pirates 9.7 12
2B * Brandon Lowe Rays 1.0 541 2B Mike Moustakas Brewers 1.5 337
2B * Gleyber Torres Yankees 4.5 105 3B Kris Bryant Cubs 4.5 107
3B Matt Chapman Athletics 4.0 114 3B Anthony Rendon Nationals 3.0 174
SS Francisco Lindor Indians 1.0 366 SS Paul DeJong Cardinals 1.0 380
SS * Xander Bogearts Red Sox 1.5 331 SS Trevor Story Rockies 4.0 112
OF Mookie Betts Red Sox 3.0 167 OF Charlie Blackmon Rockies 3.5 155
OF Joey Gallo Rangers 6.0 48 OF David Dahl Rockies 6.0 51
OF Austin Meadows Rays 2.5 236 OF Jeff McNeil Mets 1.0 478
OF Whit Merrifield Royals 4.0 132
DH J.D. Martinez Red Sox 4.5 99
Pitchers Pitchers
Pos Player Team BTP Rank Pos Player Team BTP Rank
SP * Jose Berrios Twins 5.0 67 SP Sandy Alcantara Marlins 3.7 143
CP Aroldis Chapman Yankees 2.0 272 SP Walker Buehler Dodgers 7.0 27
SP Gerrit Cole Astros 11.4 6 SP Luis Castillo Reds 10.4 10
SP Lucas Giolito White Sox 10.7 9 SP Jacob deGrom Mets 5.7 56
CP Shane Greene Tigers 0.0 622 SP Zack Greinke Dbacks 11.2 7
CP Brad Hand Indians 6.0 46 CP Josh Hader Brewers 14.7 2
CP John Means Orioles 5.0 86 SP Clayton Kershaw Dodgers 5.7 58
SP Mike Minor Rangers 9.0 19 SP Hyun-Jin Ryu Dodgers 11.7 5
SP Charlie Morton Rays 13.8 3 SP Max Scherzer Nationals 12.4 4
SP # Jake Odorizzi Twins 9.4 15 CP Will Smith Giants 4.0 113
MR Ryan Pressly Astros 1.0 496 SP Mike Soroka Braves 6.4 40
SP Marcus Stroman Blue Jays 4.0 125 CP Kirby Yates Padres 3.0 179
SP Justin Verlander Astros 14.8 1
Worthy but unchosen Worthy but unchosen
Pos Player Team BTP Rank Pos Player Team BTP Rank
CA Mitch Garver Twins 5.0 79 CA Kurt Suzuki Nationals 3.5 156
SS Marcus Semien Athletics 5.7 61 SS Orlando Arcia Brewers 4.7 94
3B Rafael Devers Red Sox 6.0 52 OF Marcell Ozuna Cardinals 8.0 24
OF Eloy Jimenez White Sox 6.5 38 SP Stephen Strasburg Nationals 10.0 11
OF Brett Gardner Yankees 6.0 47 SP Patrick Corbin Nationals 9.4 13
DH Shohei Ohtani Angels 5.5 62 SP Chris Paddack Padres 9.4 16
SP Shane Bieber Indians 11.1 8
# Player selected but will not play
* Player selected as roster replacement

(Update Sunday, July 7, 2019: Since this was posted Indians pitcher Shane Bieber has been added as a replacement AL All-Star, along with six other players, which are noted at the bottom of this post. With Bieber’s addition, the most worthy but unchosen AL pitcher is Trevor Bauer of the Indians, who ranks sixth among AL pitchers with 10.4 points.)

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2019 season through the games of July 3.
 
Player Pos Team BTP
1 Verlander, Justin 2112 pi sp hou al 14.8
2 Hader, Josh 3881 pi cp mil nl 14.7
3 Morton, Charlie 2503 pi sp tb al 13.8
4 Scherzer, Max 2588 pi sp dc nl 12.4
5 Ryu, Hyun-Jin 3139 pi sp lad nl 11.7
6 Cole, Gerrit 3232 pi sp hou al 11.4
7 Greinke, Zack 1871 pi sp ari nl 11.2
8 Bieber, Shane 4005 pi sp cle al 11.1
9 Giolito, Lucas 3900 sp pi chi al 10.7
10 Castillo, Luis 3840 pi sp cin nl 10.4
What are those numbers after players' names?
About Box-Toppers’ team abbreviations

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:

  • Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is the most worthy National League player not chosen as an All-Star.

  • Marcell Ozuna of the Cardinals is the most worthy but unchosen NL batter.

  • Eloy Jimenez of the White Sox is the most worthy but unchosen AL batter.

Major League Baseball’s 2019 All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 9, in Cleveland.

Bieber ranks ahead of several AL starting pitchers selected for the All-Star team in Box-Toppers season player rankings, including:

Strasburg most worthy but unchosen NL pitcher

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is the most deserving player not selected to the 2019 National League All-Star team. Strasburg has 10.0 Box-Toppers points in 2019, 11th among all players and sixth among NL pitchers.

Strasburg ranks ahead of several NL starting pitchers selected for the All-Star team in Box-Toppers season player rankings, including:

Jimenez most worthy but unchosen AL batter

Eloy Jimenez of the White Sox is the most deserving AL batter not selected to the AL All-Star team. Jimenez, a rookie, has 6.5 Box-Toppers points, second among AL batters, behind Mike Trout of the Angels (6.7). Jimenez ranks 38th among all players. He ranks ahead of these AL outfielders selected to the All-Star team:

Ozuna most worthy but unchosen NL batter

Marcell Ozuna of the Cardinals is the most deserving NL batter not selected to the NL All-Star team. Ozuna has 8.0 Box-Toppers points, fourth among NL batters and 24th among all players. Ozuna ranks second among NL outfielders, behind fan-selected starter Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers (9.2). Ozuna ranks ahead of these NL outfielders on the All-Star team:

Also among Box-Toppers’ worthy but unchosen for the 2019 All-Star Game are:

  • Patrick Corbin of the Nationals, 9.4 Box-Toppers points, sixth among NL starting pitchers.

  • Chris Paddack of the Padres, 9.4 points, seventh among NL starting pitchers.

  • Brett Gardner of the Yankees, 6.0 points, third among AL outfielders.

  • Rafael Devers of the Red Sox, 6.0 points, first among AL third basemen.

  • Marcus Semien of the Athletics, 5.7 points, first among AL shortstops.

  • Shohei Ohtani of the Angels, 5.5 points, first among AL designated hitters.

  • Mitch Garver of the Twins, 5.0 points, first among AL catchers.

  • Orlando Arcia of the Brewers, 4.7 points, first among NL shortstops.

  • Kurt Suzuki of the Nationals, 3.5 points, first among NL catchers.

All-Stars with no Box-Toppers points

One player in the All-Star starting roster has no Box-Toppers points for 2019—Michael Brantley of the Astros. In 2018, Brantley, then with the Indians, was selected as an AL All-Star reserve player, but also had no Box-Toppers points. He did go on to earn 1.0 point in 2018. But Brantley has just 2.0 Box-Toppers points since the start of the 2016 season—1.0 point in 2016 and 1.0 in 2018. 

Brantley is Box-Toppers’ lowest-ranked player among all All-Stars, ranking in 828th place among all players in 2019 points. (With 0.0 points in 2019, he ranks behind all 560 players who have earned Player of the Game honors at least once this season, through the games of July 4.) His placement in 828th is based on tiebreakers based on his previous season point totals. Brantley is among 905 players who have earned at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point since the start of 2018.

Brantley’s best year was 2013 with the Indians, when he had 6.7 points, seventh among AL outfielders. He has 22.4 career points since 2010.

The next-lowest ranking player among 2019’s All-Stars—and the only other All-Star with 0.0 Box-Toppers points in 2019, is Tigers closing pitcher Shane Greene, who ranks 622nd among all players. Greene earned 4.0 Box-Toppers points in 2018.

Box-Toppers leaders all made All-Star rosters

Players leading each league’s batters and pitchers in Box-Toppers points all made the All-Star teams for 2019:

  • Justin Verlander of the Astros, who leads all players with 14.8 Box-Toppers points, is on the AL All-Star roster. At this writing, there is no listed starting pitcher for the AL in the All-Star Game.

  • Josh Hader of the Brewers, who leads all National League players with 14.7 Box-Toppers points, is on the NL roster. However, Hader is a closing pitcher, who has specialized this season in pitching the final two innings of a game, rather than the standard single inning. Hader is the rare closing pitcher who leads his league in Box-Toppers points; it is almost always a starting pitcher leading in points. Hader ranks second among all players, behind Verlander.

  • Max Scherzer of the Nationals, who leads all NL starting pitchers with 12.4 Box-Toppers points. Again, while starters usually lead all league pitchers—and all league players—in Box-Toppers points, Scherzer ranks second in the NL, behind Hader, and fourth among all players. But while Scherzer is Box-Toppers’ top-ranked NL starter, it is the second-ranked NL starter who is slated to start for the NL All-Stars: Hyun-Jin Ryu of the Dodgers (11.7 points).

  • Josh Bell of the Pirates, who leads all NL batters with 9.7 Box-Toppers points, 12th among all players. While Bell was not elected a starter at first base on the NL All-Star team, he was selected as a reserve.

  • Mike Trout of the Angels, who leads all AL batters with 6.7 Box-Toppers points, 34th among all players. Trout was elected a starter at outfield on the AL All-Star team.

While there are players on the 2019 All-Star rosters with relatively low 2019 Box-Toppers points, some have made a case for themselves based on performance in recent seasons. For example:

  • J.D. Martinez of the Red Sox would be the top-ranked AL designated hitter with 17.0 Box-Toppers points over the combined 2018 and 2019 seasons.

  • Mookie Betts of the Red Sox would be among the top three AL outfielders with 13.9 points over 2018-19.

  • Javier Baez of the Cubs would be top-ranked NL shortstop (11.5 points over 2018-19).

  • Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Braves would be among the top three NL outfielders (11.9 points over 2018-19).

Harper and Machado

Neither of the offseason’s most-discussed free agent players made the 2019 All-Star teams and neither are having particularly good seasons by Box-Toppers standards: 

  • Bryce Harper signed with the Phillies for 2019 and has 2.5 Box-Toppers points this season, 18th among NL outfielders, after earning 7.5 in 2018 with the Nationals, fifth among NL outfielders.

  • Manny Machado signed with the Padres for 2019 and has no Box-Toppers points this season, 18th among NL shortstops, after earning 5.7 in 2018 with the Orioles and Dodgers, finishing the season fifth among NL shortstops.

Addendum as of July 7

Update Sunday, July 7, 2019

Since this was posted Friday, players have earned more Box-Toppers points and have risen and fallen in Box-Toppers season player rankings. Also, seven players have been added to All-Star rosters to replace players who are unable to play, either because of injury or because, in the case of starting pitchers, the All-Star Game happens too soon after their previous start.

Indians pitcher Shane Bieber, who Box-Toppers deemed the most worthy player not chosen for the All-Star teams has been added to the roster. As of July 7, Bieber has 12.1 Box-Toppers points, seventh among all players.

Bieber’s addition makes Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin the most worthy player not chosen for the 2019 All-Star teams. Corbin as of July 7 has 11.4 Box-Toppers points, ninth among all players.

Also added to All-Star rosters since this was posted Friday:

  • Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff, 7.7 Box-Toppers points, 26th among all players, 12th among NL pitchers.

  • Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, 5.0 Box-Toppers points, 70th among all players, 26th among AL pitchers.

  • Reds pitcher Sonny Gray, 5.0 points, 78th among all players, 28th among NL pitchers.

  • Pirates closing pitcher Felipe Vazquez, 4.7 points, 98th among all players, 36th among NL pitchers, third among NL closing pitchers.

  • Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy, 4.0 points, 123rd among all players, 18th among NL batters, third among NL first basemen.

  • Athletics closing pitcher Liam Hendriks , 1.0 Box-Toppers point, 515th among all players, 121st among AL pitchers, 31st among AL closing pitchers.

About Box-Toppers—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. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point 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.

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