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 1,036 (up from 1,009 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 fourteenth update, with standings as of the afternoon of August 29.

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

199 Cup Points, 130 Games, 1.53 Cup Points per Game, 44 Home Runs, 92 Runs Batted In, 19 SB, .304/.409/.663, 9.9 bWAR & 10-5, 3.14 ERA, 167 SO, 1.061 WHIP.

The Notinhalloffame Cup is built for Ohtani, who can compile points in two different avenues; the only one who can do so, although he has been shut down on the mound for the rest of the year. Ohtani continues to grow the gap between himself and his nearest competition, and we can’t see him losing the Cup. He won’t be able to compile any more stats pitching wise, but his numbers are pretty solid in that avenue. With his bat, Ohtani is the current AL leader in bWAR (9.9), Runs Scored (100), Home Runs (44), Triples (8), Walks (84), OBP (.409), Slugging (.663), OPS (1.071), OPS+ (183) and Total Bases (318), while also being third in RBIs (92), and forth in Batting (.304). The AL MVP is his to lose, and we don’t think he will.

2. Mookie Betts: Los Angeles Dodgers, Outfield: (Ranked #3, Last Week)

171 Cup Points, 124 Games, 1.38 Cup Points per Game, 35 Home Runs, 93 Runs Batted In, 10 SB, .312/.406/.606, 7.2 bWAR.

Betts has been on fire over the last two weeks, propelling himself to second over Acuna, and causing pause to think if Ohtani can be caught. In the National League, he took over the top spot in Slugging (.606), OPS (1.011) and bWAR (7.2) this past week and has moved up to fifth in Batting (.312) and third in OBP (.406). Betts has also climbed to third in RBIs (93) and fourth in Home Runs (35).

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

156 Cup Points, 130 Games, 1.20 Cup Points per Game, 29 Home Runs, 79 Runs Batted In, 61 SB, .335/.418/.572, 6.6 bWAR.

Acuna leads all National League batters in Stolen Bases (61), Runs Scored (119), and OBP (.418). He is also second in bWAR (6.6) and Hits (175), third in OPS (.989), third in Batting (.335) and fourth in Slugging (.572). Acuna is also the runaway leader in Power-Speed # (39.3).

4. Freddie Freeman: Los Angeles Dodgers, First Base: (Ranked #4, Last Week)

151 Cup Points, 130 Games, 1.14 Cup Points per Game, 24 Home Runs, 87 Runs Batted In, 17 SB, .340/.415/.583, 5.9 bWAR.

Freeman has the NL lead in Hits (176), Doubles (50), and Total Bases (302) while also currently placing second in Batting (.333), OBP (.415) and OPS (.998) and third in Slugging (.583). He is also second in Runs (109), and fifth in Runs Batted In (87).

5. Matt Olson: Atlanta Braves, First Base: (Ranked #5 Last Week)

146 Cup Points, 130 Games, 1.15 Cup Points per Game, 43 Home Runs, 112 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .272/.381/.597, 5.2 bWAR.

Olson has the National League lead in both Home Runs (43) and RBIs (112), and is in the top ten in all three Slash Line components. He is enjoying the best year of his career.

6. Kyle Tucker: Houston Astros, Outfield: (#7, Last Week)

139 Cup Points, 129 Games, 1.09 Cup Points per Game, 26 Home Runs, 97 Runs Batted In, 26 SB, .293/.374/.521, 4.2 bWAR.

Tucker is now the American League leader in RBIs (97) and in regards to the Slash Line, Tucker is sixth in Batting (.293), fifth in OBP (.374) and fourth in Slugging (.521), while holding strong at fourth in OPS (.901). He is also in the top ten in Hits, Home Runs, Stolen Bases and Extra Base Hits.

7. Juan Soto: San Diego Padres, Outfield: (Ranked #7, Last Week)

138 Cup Points, 132 Games, 1.05 Cup Points per Game, 25 Home Runs, 78 Runs Batted In, 6 SB, .260/.400/.483, 4.1 bWAR.

Soto is the National League leader in Walks (110) and is fourth in OBP (.400), and seventh in OPS (.883).

8. (TIE) Corbin Carroll: Arizona Diamondbacks, Outfield: (Not in the Top Ten, Last Week)

128 Cup Points, 127 Games, 1.01 Cup Points per Game, 22 Home Runs, 64 Runs Batted In, 40 SB, .279/.361/.515, 4.8 bWAR.

Christian Walker out. Corbin Carroll back in. The Diamondbacks have the likely National League Rookie of the Year in Carroll who is in the top ten in bWAR, Runs and Stolen Bases and is first in Triples (8).

8. (TIE) Rafael Devers: Boston Red Sox, Third Base: (Ranked #8 Last Week)

128 Cup Points, 124 Games, 1.02 Cup Points per Game, 29 Home Runs, 88 Runs Batted In, 2 SB, .269/.345/.512, 2.9 bWAR.

Devers remains a surprise being so high as he was not in the All-Star Game, nor was considered a significant snub. He and is currently fourth in the AL in Home Runs (29) and RBIs (88), and fifth in Slugging (.512).

10. Alex Bregman: Houston Astros, Third Base: (Ranked #10, Last Week)

127 Cup Points, 132 Games, 0.96 Cup Points per Game, 21 Home Runs, 87 Runs Batted In, 3 SB, .261/.363/.440, 4.0 bWAR.

Bregman remains in the top ten, giving Houston two to join the Dodgers and Braves in the top ten. He is in the top five in Walks (76), RBIs (87) and Runs (83).

Arizona’s Christian Walker fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be the afternoon of September 4.

Thank you for all of you who have participated in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project, and if you are unaware of what that is, simply, we acted as if the PFHOF had their first class in January of 1946?

We have completed the two years thus far, and here we are with a third year.

For “1948” a Preliminary Vote with 127 players whose playing career ended by 1940. We are also following the structure in that players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter is asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, with the top 25 vote getters named as Semi-Finalists.

A week later, the voters will be asked to pick 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, and a week after, they will pick five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process weekly until we catch up to the current year.

29 people participated in the 1948 Preliminary Vote which yielded the following result:

This is for the “Modern Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

This is for the “Senior Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

Next Saturday, we will be posting the results of the Semi-Final Vote of the 1948 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited.

Thank you to all who contributed, and if you want to be a part of this project, please let us know!

A day after Terry Funk passed away, another legacy wrestler left us. Bray Wyatt, born Wyndham Rotunda, died at 36 following a heart attack.

The grandson of Blackjack Mulligan and son of Mike Rotunda, and nephew of Barry and Kendall Windham, Wyatt began wrestling in 2009 in the WWE developmental territories, adopting multiple personas before settling on Bray Wyatt. The character was initially a bayou cult leader, who along with Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, would form the Wyatt Family. After getting over in NXT, the trio were called up to the WWE.

The Wyatt family got over and Bray would face and lose to John Cena at Wrestlemania XXX. He continued on and became a three-time World Champion in the WWE, utilizing multiple gimmicks, which included “The Fiend”, a supernatural character that utilized horror elements.

Let go in a cost-cutting measure, Wyatt returned in late 2022, but it was a brief run, that ended abruptly due to hat we now know was due to health reasons.

Wyatt was reported to return in recent weeks but that obviously was not the case. He leaves behind his wife and four children.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, family and friends of Bray Wyatt.

In a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected through technology, the concept of Virtual Reality (VR) has transcended the boundaries of science fiction and has firmly established itself as a transformative force across various industries. VR offers users an unparalleled level of immersion, transporting them to digital realms that were once confined to the realm of imagination. From gaming and education to healthcare and beyond, VR experiences have opened up new avenues for engagement, interaction, and entertainment.

The Evolution of Virtual Reality: Beyond the Screen

Gone are the days when virtual reality was merely a niche concept. Modern VR technology has evolved from its rudimentary origins to provide stunningly realistic and engaging experiences. With the advent of high-quality VR headsets and sophisticated motion tracking systems, users can now step into entirely different worlds that respond to their movements and actions.

Entertainment Redefined: Gaming and Beyond

Gaming has been at the forefront of the VR revolution, providing players with an opportunity to become an integral part of their favorite virtual universes. From exploring fantastical landscapes to engaging in heart-pounding action sequences, VR gaming offers an unprecedented level of immersion. And just like in any other thriving industry, VR gaming platforms, including the renowned Pin-Up online casino, which you can learn more about at https://pinupcasinocanada.com/, have embraced this technology to provide gamers with an elevated level of excitement and engagement.

Education and Training: A New Frontier

Beyond entertainment, VR is making strides in education and training. Immersive simulations allow students to explore historical events, dive deep into scientific concepts, and even practice intricate surgical procedures. This technology also offers industries such as aviation and military training a safe and controlled environment for skill development.

Therapeutic Applications: Healing Through Virtual Realms

One of the most remarkable aspects of VR is its potential in the realm of healthcare. Therapists are increasingly using VR environments to treat anxiety, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder. By immersing patients in controlled scenarios, VR therapy enables individuals to confront and overcome their fears in a supportive environment.

Virtual Tourism: Explore the World Without Leaving Home

Have you ever dreamt of exploring the pyramids of Egypt or strolling along the streets of Paris? VR has made virtual tourism a reality, allowing users to visit far-off places without leaving the comfort of their homes. This innovation has gained particular significance in times when physical travel has been limited.

The Challenges and Future of VR

While the potential of VR is vast, there are still challenges to overcome. Issues such as motion sickness, high costs, and technical limitations need to be addressed for broader adoption. However, the industry continues to innovate, striving to make VR experiences more accessible and seamless.

Conclusion

Virtual Reality is no longer confined to the realm of science fiction; it has become an integral part of our lives, transforming how we entertain, learn, and interact. From gaming and education to healthcare and beyond, the potential of VR is vast and exciting. As technology continues to advance, and as platforms like Pin-Up pave the way for immersive online experiences, we can expect VR to reshape industries and offer us new ways to engage with the digital world. The journey into these virtual realms has just begun, and the future holds endless possibilities.