The Moonlight Graham of Pitchers!

Last week we told you about the Moonlight Grahams of DMBL batters. In response, we were bombarded with emails, faxes, and even a few notes wrapped around bricks from fans demanding equal treatment for the shortest careers by pitchers!

That's actually a somewhat easier assignment. We don't have games played data or plate appearances for the early years of the DMBL, so it's tough to compare eras. But it's easy with pitchers -- we have appearances and innings for every year of the DMBL. So we truly know who has had the shortest career.

Three pitchers in DMBL history have careers that lasted less than an inning... but two of them appeared in games this year, so they're off the list!

Until this year, the Moonlight Graham of DMBL pitchers was Derek Holland. Prior to 2012, the left-handed starter pitched in just one DMBL game -- and didn't record a single out. As a member of the Vancouver Iron Fist in 2011, Holland was lifted after walking the only batter he faced in a relief appearance. This year, however, Holland more than made up for lost time as he's appeared in 28 games and pitched 183.1 innings. He's been pretty effective, posting a 3.58 ERA and 1.281 WHIP. However, because of that one walk without recording an out in 2011, his career WHIP soars all the way to... 1.287.

We also have to forget Jake Arrieta. Prior to this season, Arrieta's entire DMBL career consisted of the single batter he faced for the Newark Sugar Bears in 2011. Arrieta got the out and therefore went into the record books with a perfect 0.00 ERA and WHIP. That is, until this year. Arrieta has been thoroughly bombed as a member of Livingston Last Place, going 3-12 with a 5.39 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.

So we have to go the third man on the list, Takashi Kashiwada, to find the pitcher with the shortest DMBL career. A 26-year-old lefthanded reliever with the New York Mets in 1997, Kashiwada was drafted in the 13th Round by the Phoenix Dragons in the 1998 draft. He pitched in just one game for the Dragons, giving up one walk while recording two outs (one by strikeout), but no hits or runs. He was released in June and never threw another pitch in the DMBL. After the 1997 season with the Mets, Kashiwada returned to Japan, pitching until 2004 with the Yomiuri Giants.

The next 10 shortest careers in DMBL history, by innings pitched:

Renyel Pinto, a left-handed reliever, was bombed in his only appearance with the Philadelphia Endzone Animals in 2008 (4 ER, 3 H, 3 BB in 1.3 IP) and was never seen again. Pinto has the highest ERA (27.00) and WHIP (4.50) in DMBL history.

Tied with Pinto is Dan Smith, who also lasted 1.3 innings in his only DMBL appearance. Amazingly, Smith, an 8th Round pick (#109 overall) in the 2003 draft, was on the Hillsborough Destroyers for the entire season -- but only pitched in that one game. He didn't allow a hit or a run, though he did walk two, and struck out a batter. He was not protected and never returned to the DMBL.

Also tied with Pinto and Smith is Ben Rivera, who has the dubious honor of the shortest career -- and also the highest ERA and WHIP -- by a starting pitcher. A member of the 1993 Columbia Crusaders, Rivera was slapped around pretty good in his only start, giving up 3 earned runs on 2 hits and 3 walks in 1.3 innings pitched, giving him a career 20.25 ERA and 3.75 WHIP.

Geraldo Guzman pitched just 1 2/3rds innings in his career... and it took him two games to do it! A member of the 2001 Phoenix Dragons, Guzman was pounded for 3 earned runs on 3 hits and a walk in his two appearances.

The aptly named Scott Dohmann was left with a career 11.60 ERA after giving up 3 earned runs (4 H, 1 BB) in his only 2.3 innings over three appearances in the DMBL. Dohmann did his damage with the 2005 Las Vegas Rat Pack. D'oh!

Another guy with a fitting name, Luther Hackman, also had more appearances (3) than innings (2.7). He was torched for 5 ER (3 H, 2 BB) in his brief taste of glory with the Tijuana Banditos in 2002.

Seth McClung's career lasted just one game as he was pounded for 5 ER on 6 H and 4 BB in 2.7 innings with the Amityville Ant-Slayers in 2009. On the plus side, he did strike out 4 batters.

Steve "Make It" Rain lasted just 3 innings (over three appearances) as a member fo the Philadelphia Endzone Animals in 2001. Rain was lucky to give up just 2 earned runs -- he allowed 4 hits and 4 walks!

Tom Edens also lasted 3 innings spread over three appearances as a member of the 1993 Columbia Crusaders, and like Rain, was fortunate to escape with just 1 earned run after allowing 5 hits and a walk.

And finally, there's Ryan Wagner, another member of the "one and done" club. Wagner lasted just one appearance, but it wasn't so bad -- he gave up just 1 earned run and 1 hit over three innings (but also 4 walks) as a member of the 2005 Hillsborough Hired Hitmen. The hard-throwing right-hander was drafted in the 1st round by the Cincinnati Reds in 2003; he was called up to the show after just 9 games in the minors, at age 20, and struck out 25 batters in 21.2 innings. But the usual issues -- a lack of control and injuries -- ended his big league career at the age of 24.