It is with great pleasure that we continue the third annual Notinhalloffame MLB Regular Season Cup, and let us explain how this works:

With every single regular season game, we anointed the best five players in the game with descending points, 5-4-3-2-1.

We knew the following:

-       The top players for the MLB NIHOF Cup are not always the best in the league, as injuries keep players out of games, and a premium on staying healthy can help pile up points. It also does not hurt to be a top player on an average or mediocre team, as they can amass Cup points easier that elite players on loaded squads.

-       In Baseball, it is more common than in Basketball and Hockey for a player to accrue points with a single Home Run in a game, and overall favors position players. Starting Pitchers have a hard time with approximately 30-35 Starts and throwing less innings than in previous generations. This also is true for closers, which is not made for this process.

-       Please remember, that this is NOT necessarily who we think were the best players this year, and does not reflect overall consistency. Treat this the way did, as a fun process and more of a compilation of temporary statistical domination.

At present 827 (up from 796 last week) Players have generated at least one Cup Point.

So, MLB players! Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!

This is the sixth update, with standings as of the morning of June 12.

1. Shohei Ohtani: Los Angeles Angels, Designated Hitter & Pitcher: (Ranked #1 last week)

98 Cup Points, 65 Games, 1.51 Cup Points per Game, 18 Home Runs, 46 Runs Batted In, 9 SB, .287/.359/.571, 3.5 bWAR & 5-2, 3.32 ERA, 102 SO, 1.039 WHIP.

The Notinhalloffame Cup is built for Ohtani, who can compile points in two different avenues; the only one who can do so. After a flat week, Ohtani exploded offensively and is off to his best pitching start, leading the AL in H/9 (8.9) and is second in Strikeouts (102). With his bat, Ohtani is second in the league in Home Runs (18), third in Slugging (.571) and fourth in OPS (.930). Ohtani is also leading the AL in Extra Base Hits (33).

2. Ronald Acuna: Atlanta Braves, Outfield: (Ranked #2 Last Week)

82 Cup Points, 65 Games, 1.26 Cup Points per Game, 13 Home Runs, 37 Runs Batted In, 28 SB, .331/.402/.563, 3.3 bWAR.

Acuna leads all National League batters in bWAR (3.3) and Stolen Bases (28) and is second in Runs Scored (56). He is in the top four in all three Slash Line components.

3. Juan Soto: San Diego Padres, Outfield: (Ranked #4, Last Week)

73 Cup Points, 65 Games, 1.12 Cup Points per Game, 10 Home Runs, 32 Runs Batted In, 6 SB, .258/.406/.462, 2.4 bWAR.

Soto is still the National League leader in Walks (56) and is fourth in OBP (.406). He is also sixth in OPS+ (146).

4 (TIE). Corbin Carroll: Arizona Diamondbacks, Outfield: (Not Ranked, Last Week)

72 Cup Points, 62 Games, 1.16 Cup Points per Game, 13 Home Runs, 33 Runs Batted In, 19 SB, .308/.389/.579, 3.1 bWAR.

Carroll is running away with the National League Rookie of the Year Award, and it is only June! At present, the young Outfielder is in the top seven in all Slash Line components and is second in Stolen Bases (19).

4 (TIE). Jorge Soler: Miami Marlins, Outfield & Designated Hitter: (#6, Last Week)

72 Cup Points, 62 Games, 1.16 Cup Points per Game, 19 Home Runs, 38 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .258/.346/.559, 1.4 bWAR.

Soler is playing more and more at DH this year, but he is providing the Marlins incredible offense. He is second in NL Home Runs (19), fifth in Slugging (.559), and seventh in OPS (.905).

6. Rafael Devers: Boston Red Sox, Third Base: (Ranked #9 Last Week)

71 Cup Points, 57 Games, 1.07 Cup Points per Game, 15 Home Runs, 52 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .247/.300/.494, 1.1 bWAR.

Devers reversed course and had his first rank increase in some time. He is currently third in the AL in RBIs (52) and fourth in Home Runs (15).

7. Aaron Judge: New York Yankees, Outfield: (Ranked #2, Last Week)

70 Cup Points, 49 Games, 1.43 Cup Points per Game, 19 Home Runs, 40 Runs Batted In, 3 SB, .291/.404/.674, 1.9 bWAR.

A toe injury kept Judge out of the lineup the last week, thus he tumpled four spots on the NIHOF Cup leaderboard. Last year’s NIHOF Cup winner and Home Run leader is still leading the AL in Slugging (.674), OPS (.674), OPS+ (192) and Home Runs (19).

8 (TIE). Marcus Semien: Texas Rangers, Shortstop: (Ranked #4, Last Week)

68 Cup Points, 64 Games, 1.06 Cup Points per Game, 9 Home Runs, 51 Runs Batted In, 7 SB, .296/.361/.5487, 3.2 bWAR.

Semien is having an outstanding 2023, though he is coming off a poor week. He is the current AL leader in Runs Scored (57) and is second in bWAR for Position Players (3.2).

9 (TIE). Yordan Alvarez: Houston Astros, Outfield & Designated Hitter: (Ranked #6 Last Week)

67 Cup Points, 57 Games, 1.07 Cup Points per Game, 17 Home Runs, 55 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .277/.388/.589, 2.0 bWAR.

Alvarez is one the game’s best hitters and the current American League leader in RBIs (55). He is also in the top ten in OBP, Slugging, OPS, Home Runs, Walks and OPS+.

9 (TIE). Luis Arraez: Miami Marlins, Second Base: (#9, Last Week)

67 Cup Points, 54 Games, 1.06 Cup Points per Game, 1 Home Run, 29 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .397/.447/.485, 2.8 bWAR.

Arraez is flirting with a .400 Batting Average and he is currently the National League leader in Hits (91), Batting Average (.397) and On Base Percentage (.447). He also has a very impressive Slugging Percentage (.485) for a player with only one Home Run.

Los Angeles’ (NL) Mookie Betts and New York’s (NL) Pete Alonso fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be the afternoon of June 19.

It is with great pleasure that we continue the third annual Notinhalloffame MLB Regular Season Cup, and let us explain how this works:

With every single regular season game, we anointed the best five players in the game with descending points, 5-4-3-2-1.

We knew the following:

-       The top players for the MLB NIHOF Cup are not always the best in the league, as injuries keep players out of games, and a premium on staying healthy can help pile up points. It also does not hurt to be a top player on an average or mediocre team, as they can amass Cup points easier that elite players on loaded squads.

-       In Baseball, it is more common than in Basketball and Hockey for a player to accrue points with a single Home Run in a game, and overall favors position players. Starting Pitchers have a hard time with approximately 30-35 Starts and throwing less innings than in previous generations. This also is true for closers, which is not made for this process.

-       Please remember, that this is NOT necessarily who we think were the best players this year, and does not reflect overall consistency. Treat this the way did, as a fun process and more of a compilation of temporary statistical domination.

At present 740 (up from 698 last week) Players have generated at least one Cup Point.

So, MLB players! Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!

This is the fourth update, with standings as of the morning of May 23.

1. Shohei Ohtani: Los Angeles Angels, Designated Hitter & Pitcher: (Ranked #1 last week)

72 Cup Points, 47 Games, 1.53 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 32 Runs Batted In, 6 SB, .282/.358/.530, 2.9 bWAR & 5-1, 3.05 ERA, 80 SO, 0.898 WHIP.

We said that Ohtani would take over the top spot by before June, and here we are! The Notinhalloffame Cup is built for Ohtani, who can compile points in two different avenues; the only one who can do so. The Japanese superstar led his nation to a World Cup, and right now his Angels have a winning record. Ohtani is off to his best pitching start, leading the AL in SO/9 (12.2) and H/9 (4.3), and he is his usual self with the bat, where he is sixth in Home Runs (11) and tenth in RBIs (32).

2 (TIE). Ronald Acuna: Atlanta Braves, Outfield: (Ranked #4 Last Week)

58 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.20 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 27 Runs Batted In, 19 SB, .342/.430/.598, 2.9 bWAR.

Acuna leads all National League batters in bWAR (2.9), Runs Scored (46), and Stolen Bases (19), and is second in all three Slash Line components, as well as Hits (63). He is arguably the current NL MVP front runner.

2 (TIE). Rafael Devers: Boston Red Sox, Third Base: (Ranked #2 Last Week)

58 Cup Points, 47 Games, 1.23 Cup Points per Game, 13 Home Runs, 44 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .254/.296/.530, 1.1 bWAR.

Devers remains at #2, and is second in the AL in Home Runs (13), and is second in RBIs (44). It his power that lands Devers here, as his OBP has been lacking.

4. Marcus Semien: Texas Rangers, Shortstop: (Ranked #2, Last Week)

56 Cup Points, 47 Games, 1.19 Cup Points per Game, 7 Home Runs, 39 Runs Batted In, 7 SB, .304/.381/.487, 3.0 bWAR.

Semien is having an outstanding 2023, and is the current AL leader in Runs Scored (43) and bWAR for Position Players (3.0). The Rangers infielder is also fourth in Defensive bWAR (1.0).

5. Yordan Alvarez: Houston Astros, Designated Hitter & Outfield: (Ranked #7, Last Week)

53 Cup Points, 41 Games, 1.29 Cup Points per Game, 12 Home Runs, 46 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .305/.399/.616, 1.8 bWAR.

Alvarez is entrenched as one of the game’s premier hitters, and is at present third in Slugging (.616) and OPS (1.015), fifth in Home Runs (12), and second in RBIs (46).

6 (TIE). Pete Alonso: New York Mets, First Base: (Not in Top Ten, Last Week)

51 Cup Points, 48 Games, 1.05 Cup Points per Game, 17 Home Runs, 41 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .228/.322/.538, 1.3 bWAR.

Alonso rockets back into the top ten, and took over the National League lead in Home Runs (17) and RBIs (41).

6 (TIE). Aaron Judge: New York Yankees, Outfield: (Not Ranked in the Top Ten, Last Week)

41 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.03 Cup Points per Game, 13 Home Runs, 31 Runs Batted In, 3 SB, .299/.400/.642, 1.8 bWAR.

Last year’s NIHOF Cup winner makes his first top ten appearance. Judge is leading the AL in Slugging (.642) and OPS (1.042), and is second in Home Runs (13).

8. Mookie Betts: Los Angeles Dodgers, Outfield: (#7, Last Week)

50 Cup Points, 39 Games, 1.10 Cup Points per Game, 10 Home Runs, 29 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .250/.357/.506, 1.7 bWAR.

Betts is in the NL’s top ten in Runs (33), Doubles (13), Total Bases (89) and Extra Base Hits (24).

9 (TIE). Luis Robert: Chicago White Sox, Outfield: (#6, Last Week)

49 Cup Points, 48 Games, 1.02 Cup Points per Game, 13 Home Runs, 29 Runs Batted In, 2 SB, .268/.325/.559, 2.7 bWAR.

Robert is healthy and producing at a high rate, topping the AL leaderboard in Extra Base Hits (23) and Defensive bWAR (1.2) and is second in Home Runs (13).

9 (TIE). Juan Soto: San Diego Padres, Outfield: (#5, Last Week)

49 Cup Points, 47 Games, 1.04 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 21 Runs Batted In, 4 SB, .248/.398/.473, 1.6 bWAR.

Soto is the National League leader in Walks (41) and is in the top ten in OBP (.398) and OPS+ (145).

Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies, Chicago’s (NL) Patirck Wisdom and Toronto’s Bo Bichette fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be the morning of May 29.

It is with great pleasure that we continue the third annual Notinhalloffame MLB Regular Season Cup, and let us explain how this works:

With every single regular season game, we anointed the best five players in the game with descending points, 5-4-3-2-1.

We knew the following:

-       The top players for the MLB NIHOF Cup are not always the best in the league, as injuries keep players out of games, and a premium on staying healthy can help pile up points. It also does not hurt to be a top player on an average or mediocre team, as they can amass Cup points easier that elite players on loaded squads.

-       In Baseball, it is more common than in Basketball and Hockey for a player to accrue points with a single Home Run in a game, and overall favors position players. Starting Pitchers have a hard time with approximately 30-35 Starts and throwing less innings than in previous generations. This also is true for closers, which is not made for this process.

-       Please remember, that this is NOT necessarily who we think were the best players this year, and does not reflect overall consistency. Treat this the way did, as a fun process and more of a compilation of temporary statistical domination.

At present 698 (up from 664 last week) Players have generated at least one Cup Point.

So, MLB players! Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!

This is the third update, with standings as of the morning of May 15.

1. Shohei Ohtani: Los Angeles Angels, Designated Hitter & Pitcher: (Ranked #1 last week)

55 Cup Points, 39 Games, 1.41 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 26 Runs Batted In, 6 SB, .287/.361/.513, 2.4 bWAR & 4-1, 2.74 ERA, 66 SO, 0.913 WHIP.

We said that Ohtani would take over the top spot by before June, and here we are! The Notinhalloffame Cup is built for Ohtani, who can compile points in two different avenues; the only one who can do so. The Japanese superstar led his nation to a World Cup, and right now his Angels have a winning record. Ohtani is off to his best pitching start, leading the AL in SO/9 (12.9) and H/9 (4.3), and he is his usual self with the bat.

2 (TIE). Rafael Devers: Boston Red Sox, Third Base: (Ranked #2 Last Week)

49 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.23 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 37 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .255/.304/.529, 1.1 bWAR.

Devers finally falls from the top spot, after failing to accrue a Cup Point this past week, but is still the American League leader in Home Runs (11), and is second in RBIs (37).

2. Marcus Semien: Texas Rangers, Shortstop: (Ranked #5, Last Week)

49 Cup Points, 33 Games, 1.18 Cup Points per Game, 7 Home Runs, 34 Runs Batted In, 7 SB, .288/.376/.475, 2.4 bWAR.

Semien climbs to a second-place tie and is the current AL leader in Runs Scoed (35) and bWAR for Position Players (2.4). The Rangers infielder is also third in Defensive bWAR (0.8).

4. Ronald Acuna: Atlanta Braves, Outfield: (Ranked #3 Last Week)

48 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.20 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 23 Runs Batted In, 17 SB, .346/.437/.577, 2.7 bWAR.

Acuna leads all NL batters in bWAR (2.7), Runs Scored (30), Hits (54) Stolen Bases (17), OBP (.437), OPS (1.014), OPS+ (174) and Total Bases (90), while second in Batting Average (.346). Wait, how is he only fourth? Ah, the mystery of the NIHOF CUP!

5. Juan Soto: San Diego Padres, Outfield: (Not in Top Ten, Last Week)

46 Cup Points, 41 Games, 1.12 Cup Points per Game, 7 Home Runs, 20 Runs Batted In, 3 SB, .255/.403/.483, 1.3 bWAR.

Soto is the National League leader in Walks (36) and is in the top ten in OBP (.403) and OPS+ (151).

6. Luis Robert: Chicago White Sox, Outfield: (Not in Top Ten, Last Week)

45 Cup Points, 41 Games, 1.10 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 27 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .275/.335/.562, 2.2 bWAR.

Robert is healthy and producing at a high rate, topping the AL leaderboard in Home Runs (11) and Extra Base Hits (22) and is second in Defensive bWAR (0.8).

7 (TIE). Yordan Alvarez: Houston Astros, Designated Hitter & Outfield: (Ranked #6, Last Week)

43 Cup Points, 34 Games, 1.27 Cup Points per Game, 9 Home Runs, 37 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .288/.388/.568, 1.2 bWAR.

Alvarez is entrenched as one of the game’s premier hitters, and is at present fourth in Slugging (.568) and OPS (.956) and eighth in Home Runs (9).

7 (TIE). Mookie Betts: Los Angeles Dodgers, Outfield: (Not in the Top Ten, Last Week)

43 Cup Points, 39 Games, 1.10 Cup Points per Game, 9 Home Runs, 24 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .252/.358/.510, 1.6 bWAR.

Betts makes his first top ten appearance, which is where he belongs. The Outfielder is seventh in Home Runs in the NL (9).

9. Ozzie Albies: Atlanta Braves, Second Base: (Ranked #3, Last Week)

42 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.05 Cup Points per Game, 10 Home Runs, 29 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .259/.298/.505, 1.1 bWAR.

Albies is here because of his power, currently fifth in the NL in Home Runs (10) and fourth in RBIs (29).

10 (TIE). Patrick Wisdom: Chicago Cubs, First Base: (Not Ranked in the Top Ten, Last Week)

41 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.03 Cup Points per Game, 12 Home Runs, 23 Runs Batted In, 2 SB, .240/.338/.587, 1.0 bWAR.

Wisdom returns to the top ten as two other Cubs fell off. He is currently the National League leader in Slugging (.587) and is second in Home Runs (12).

10 (TIE). Bo Bichette: Toronto Blue Jays, Shortstop: (Not Ranked in the Top Ten, Last Week)

41 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.02 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 26 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .320/.365/.515, 1.7 bWAR.

Bichette currently holds the AL lead in Hits (54) and Total Bases (87), and is third in Batting Average (.320).

Chicago’s (NL) Ian Happ and Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles’s (NL) Max Muncy and Los Angeles’s (AL) Mike Trout fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be the morning of May 22.

It is with great pleasure that we continue the third annual Notinhalloffame MLB Regular Season Cup, and let us explain how this works:

With every single regular season game, we anointed the best five players in the game with descending points, 5-4-3-2-1.

We knew the following:

-       The top players for the MLB NIHOF Cup are not always the best in the league, as injuries keep players out of games, and a premium on staying healthy can help pile up points. It also does not hurt to be a top player on an average or mediocre team, as they can amass Cup points easier that elite players on loaded squads.

-       In Baseball, it is more common than in Basketball and Hockey for a player to accrue points with a single Home Run in a game, and overall favors position players. Starting Pitchers have a hard time with approximately 30-35 Starts and throwing less innings than in previous generations. This also is true for closers, which is not made for this process.

-       Please remember, that this is NOT necessarily who we think were the best players this year, and does not reflect overall consistency. Treat this the way did, as a fun process and more of a compilation of temporary statistical domination.

At present 664 (up from 619 last week) Players have generated at least one Cup Point.

So, MLB players! Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!

This is the second update, with standings as of May 8.

1. Rafael Devers: Boston Red Sox, Third Base: (Ranked #1 Last Week)

49 Cup Points, 35 Games, 1.40 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 34 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .250/.301/.550, 1.1 bWAR.

Devers remains a slight surprise at the top of the heap, batting only .250 with an OBP barely over three, but he has been collecting runs when it matters. Currently the American League leader in Home Runs (11), Devers is second in RBIs (34), fifth in OPS (.879) and eighth in Slugging (.550).

2. Shohei Ohtani: Los Angeles Angels, Designated Hitter & Pitcher: (Ranked #2 last week)

45 Cup Points, 33 Games, 1.36 Cup Points per Game, 7 Home Runs, 20 Runs Batted In, 5 SB, .295/.366/.512, 2.2 bWAR & 4-0, 2.54 ERA, 59 SO, 0.872 WHIP.

The Notinhalloffame Cup is built for Ohtani, who can compile points in two different avenues; the only one who can do so. The Japanese superstar led his nation to a World Cup, and right now his Angels have a winning record. Ohtani is off to his best pitching start, leading the AL in Strikeouts (59), and he is his usual self with the bat. We can’t imagine Ohtani not leading this by June.

3 (TIE). Ronald Acuna: Atlanta Braves, Outfield: (Ranked #6 Last Week)

40 Cup Points, 35 Games, 1.14 Cup Points per Game, 6 Home Runs, 21 Runs Batted In, 15 SB, .338/.431/.551, 2.0 bWAR.

Acuna leads all NL batters in bWAR (2.0), Runs Scored (30), Stolen Bases (15) and Power-Speed # (8.6), and is in the top five in Batting Average and On Base Percentage.

3 (TIE). Ozzie Albies: Atlanta Braves, Second Base: (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

40 Cup Points, 35 Games, 1.24 Cup Points per Game, 9 Home Runs, 26 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .283/.320/.543, 1.3 bWAR.

Albies is tied for third with teammate, Acuna, making Atlanta the first team with two ranked players (last week it was the Angels). While the Second Baseman is not in the top ten in any major category, he is close, and has been money when it matters.

5 (TIE). Max Muncy: Los Angeles Dodgers, First Base: (Ranked #3, Last Week)

39 Cup Points, 31 Games, 1.26 Cup Points per Game, 12 Home Runs, 28 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .218/.385/.584, 1.4 bWAR.

Muncy is only batting .218, but he is also at the top of the leaderboard in Home Runs (12) and is third in Slugging (.584).

5 (TIE). Marcus Semien: Texas Rangers, Shortstop: (Ranked #9, Last Week)

39 Cup Points, 33 Games, 1.18 Cup Points per Game, 5 Home Runs, 28 Runs Batted In, 4 SB, .286/.377/.466, 2.0 bWAR.

Semien is currently second in Runs Scored (28), and fifths in RBIs in the AL (28). He is also seventh in Hits (38).

7. Ian Happ: Chicago Cubs, Outfield: (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

38 Cup Points, 33 Games, 1.15 Cup Points per Game, 4 Home Runs, 15 Runs Batted In, 4 SB, .300/.418/.475, 0.7 bWAR.

Happ had a great week, placing him in the top ten here and he is also now in the top ten in OBP, Win Probability Added and Championship Win Probability Added.

8. Mike Trout: Los Angeles Angels, Outfield: (Ranked #3, Last Week)

37 Cup Points, 27 Games, 1.16 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 20 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .308/.395/.589, 1.2 bWAR.

Trout remains the baseball player we all know and love and the future first-ballot Hall of Famer is currently is in the top ten in Hits, Home Runs, OBP, Slugging and OPS.

9 (TIE). Cody Bellinger: Chicago Cubs, Outfield:

36 Cup Points, 31 Games, 1.16 Cup Points per Game, 7 Home Runs, 19 Runs Batted In, 9 SB, .300/.368/.567, 1.9 bWAR.

Is Cody back? The 2019 MVP faltered in his last three seasons as a Dodger, but he playing excellent baseball at the moment and emerging from the grave that many pundits dug for him. In the NL. Bellinger is second in bWAR for NL Position Players (1.9), and seventh in Slugging (.567).

6 (TIE). Yordan Alvarez: Houston Astros, Designated Hitter & Outfield:

36 Cup Points, 28 Games, 1.29 Cup Points per Game, 7 Home Runs, 31 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .275/.385/.539, 0.8 bWAR.

Alvarez has cooled off a bit after a blistering start, but is still third in RBIs (31), and is leading the NL in both Win Probability Added (2.6) and Championship Win Probability Added (1.5).

9 (TIE). Yandy Diaz: Tampa Bay Rays, Third Base:

36 Cup Points, 32 Games, 1.22 Cup Points per Game, 9 Home Runs, 19 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .325/.435/.605, 1.5 bWAR.

Diaz has been excellent lately, and took over the American League lead in Runs Scored (29), OBP (.435), and has rocketed into second in Slugging (.605) and OPS (1.040).

Chicago’s (NL) Patrick Wisdom, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, New York’s (NL) Pete Alonso and Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena have fallen out of the top ten.

Our next update will be the morning of May 15.