R.I.P, Gary Carter

Baseball lost a legend yesterday with the death of Gary Carter.

"The Kid" was a long-time manager for the Honolulu Sharks. He also managed the Columbia Rattlesnakes and, most recently, the D.C. Bushslappers.

Carter was eligible in the first three seasons of the DMBL, but he never got the call. His best year during that stretch was the inaugural season of 1991, when he hit .254/.324/.406 in MLB.

A great year for pitchers!

Just as MLB has seen its scoring "unexpectedly" drop since more rigorous PED testing went into effect several years ago, the DMBL also has seen a resurgence in quality pitching. This year really showed it, however, as some team pitching records fell and others were challenged for the first time in a decade. Let's take a look at the changes to the Team Season Records page.

The Philadelphia Endzone Animals set new league records in three categories in 2011 -- all marks that had been set by the 1998 Vancouver Iron Fist. The Animals set new marks in lowest team WHIP (1.16), lowest OPS allowed (.653), and highest quality start percentage (.691). The previous records were 1.20, .667, and .673, respectively.

The Endzone Animals just missed breaking an even older record -- best team ERA, set way back in 1992 by the Arkansas Golden Falcons. The Animals posted a 3.10 ERA, not quite good enough to knock out Arkansas's 3.08. But it still is good enough for 2nd all-time and the best team ERA of the DMB Era, breaking the record set by (who else) the 1998 Vancouver Iron Fist.

Not to be outdone, the 2011 edition of the Iron Fist also made a run at the record books. This year's Fisters tied their 1998 WHIP mark with a 1.20, and reached third place in lowest OPS at .671. The Sardine City Straphangers pitching staff also had a great season -- they posted a .676 OPS, now good enough for 4th all-time, and a 1.21 WHIP, now tied for 4th with the 2002 Newark Sugar Bears.

Also breaking into the top 5: The Iron Fist allowed just 624 runs, which now ranks 3rd all-time... and right behind them, at 629 runs, were the Straphangers. Previously, third place had been held by the 2003 Carolina Mudcats; their 639 runs allowed now drop to 5th. Now out of the top 5: The '04 Mudcats, at 647 runs, and the 1999 Toledo Mutthens, with 662.

One more addition to the leaderboard: The Hillsborough Hired Hitmen, behind closer Rafael Soriano, posted a .784 SV%, good enough to tie for fourth all-time.

Not surprisingly, no team came close to setting a record in any batting category.

Check out all the records on the Team Season Records page.