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.

The DMBL's Moonlight Graham

Whenever I'm stopped by fans on the street, they always ask me one question: Who is the DMBL version of Moonlight Graham, the player who appeared in just one MLB game, but was made famous by the movie Field of Dreams?

Well, the long-awaited answer is here!

The DMBL's version of Moonlight Graham is Jose Castillo -- the only player I could find who played in a DMBL game, but didn't have an official at-bat. Castillo's entire DMBL career consists of one game with the Philadelphia Endzone Animals in 2006. That year, the second baseman was signed May 31 as a free agent, and would remain on the team for almost a month (he'd be released on June 25, making way for Zack Greinke). During his 26 days in the show, Castillo would appear in just one game, and get only one plate appearance. And guess what? Castillo delivered with a sac fly, driving in a run! He was never seen in the DMBL again; the 31-year-old infielder is currently playing for Veracruz in the Mexican League.


But he's not the only player who had a brief DMBL career.
  
Two players had just one official at-bat: Peter Bergeron and Manny Lee. Bergeron played in one game for the Kentucky Hillbillies in 2001, and in his only plate appearance, he singled and then scored. He thus retired with a 1.000 batting average. Lee's single appearance came in 1993 with the Columbia Crusaders, going 0-for-1 in his only at-bat.

The following players had 10 at-bats or less in the entirety of their DMBL careers:

Jermaine Allensworth played in just 3 games, all in 1998 with the Phoenix Dragons. He got five at-bats and went 0-for-5, including a strikeout.

Alfredo Amezaga is unusual in that he played two DMBL seasons -- and has just two at-bats. He appeared in four DMBL games, one in 2008 and three in 2009, all with Sardine City. He had one at-bat in 2008 and another in 2009, and didn't get a hit either time, although in '09 he did reach via walk and scored. The 34-year-old utilityman won't be back in the DMBL any time soon; he hasn't been eligible in three years, and spent all of this season in Triple-A.

Bruce Aven appeared in three games, all with Phoenix in 2000, and got 10 at-bats. He had just one hit -- but it was a home run. He also had two walks.

Rafael Bournigal played in nine DMBL games, all in 1997 for the Jerusalem Rabbis, mostly as a defensive replacement. He did come up four times and had two hits.

Wes Chamberlain played for the Scranton Sparrows in 1992. Games played data isn't available, but we do know he had just 5 at-bats, going 1 for 5.

Jerald Clark played for the Austin Outlaws in 1994; again, we don't know how many games he played in, but he had only 3 at-bats. He didn't get a hit, but he did have a walk.

He had a 20-year career in MLB, but Brian Downing played just two games in the DMBL, both with the Columbia Crusaders in 1993. He went 2-for-8 at the plate (both hits were doubles), with one RBI.

Chris Duffy had five games with Las Vegas in '07, going 2-for-5 with a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI.

Dan Gladden went 1-for-5 (with an RBI) in his only DMBL season -- 1994 with the Charleston Chiefs. Games played data not available.

Rene Gonzales played in one DMBL game, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout as a member of the '93 Arkansas Golden Falcons.

A member of the 1994 Sacramento Seahawks, David Hulse went 0-for-3 (with a walk) in his only DMBL action. Games played data isn't available.

Matt LaPorta has played in just 10 games despite playing for two teams. LaPorta had four games with Carolina in 2011, and then six with Vancouver that same year. Between the two teams he went 2-for-9 with two walks and a run. LaPorta is eligible for 2012, but no one signed him; he won't be eligible next year.

Mitch Maier played in one game with the Philadelphia Endzone Animals in 2010. He went 1-for-3, and the one was a double. He's still in the bigs, but he wasn't eligible this year and won't be next year.

Catcher Eric "No Relation" Munson went 2-for-6 in his only DMBL action, including a home run. He played in seven games with the Vancouver Iron Fist in 2004.

Laynce Nix played in two games with the Vancouver Iron Fist in 2005. He went 0-for-2. There's no danger in adding to his career total -- he wasn't eligible last year and won't be next year, either. Coincidentally, his brother, Jayson Nix, just missed the cutoff -- he had 12 at-bats, getting a hit, but also 5 Ks, in 2010. He played in three games with Hillsborough and four with Philadelphia.

Charlie O'Brien played in 3 games with Vancouver in 1998 and went 2-for-7 with a double and a walk.

Mark Parent was one of the best hitters in DMBL history... if you don't require a minimum number of at-bats. Parent, playing for the 1996 Toledo Mutthens, went 4-for-5 with a double and two home runs, giving him a career .800 batting average (and 2.200 slugging average), for a 3.000 OPS.

Long-heralded prospect Felix Pie finally got his big break for the Iron Fist in 2010. He played in 12 games, mostly as a defensive replacement or pinch runner; at the plate, he got 9 at-bats and had one hit, plus two walks. Pie is still just 27, but hasn't appeared in the bigs this year.

So Taguchi got into 6 games with the Phoenix Dragons in 2006; he went 3-for-10 with a home run.

Willie Wilson played in just two games in his DMBL career, both with the Cheyenne Warhawks in 1993. The 36-year-old outfielder went 3-for-8 with 4 RBIs.

Another small sample size superstar, Daryle Ward got into 10 games with the Las Vegas Rat Pack in 2005. In 10 at-bats, Ward went 4-for-10 with a triple and a home run, plus a walk, giving him a career line of .400/.455/.900.

Honorable mention: Kirk Gibson didn't make it to the DMBL until he was a 36-year-old designated hitter and a shadow of his former self. He had just 11 at-bats, all in 1994 with the Charleston Chiefs, picking up two hits.