The prestigious Dennis Eckersley Award, named after the former Vancouver and Toledo star pitcher who dominated in the early 1990s, is given to the most astounding Relief Pitcher in the DMBL. A series of points are given to score a reliever's Eckersley standings. Two points are awarded for each save and each victory earned in relief and one point is subtracted for each blown save and each loss.

And the award goes to....

John Smoltz, Newark Sugar Bears

Smoltz became the first pitcher to win back-to-back Ecks since Dennis Eckersley won it back in 1991 and 1992. Smoltz followed up his record-setting 2003 campaign with another stellar year in 2004. Smoltz tied with Rod Beck for the league lead in saves with 34 and finished fourth in save percentage(.872) and had the 9th lowest percentage of inherited runnes scored (.182). Overall, Smoltz appeared in 66 games with a 2.21 ERA, allowing 92 baserunners in 85.1 IP (9.7 runners/game), and 87 strikeouts.

Smoltz had a great season, but wasn't as dominant in the relief standings as last year. Coming in second in relief points was Arkansas's Byun Hyung Kim, who was shuffled in and out of the closer role, yet managed 33 saves and seven wins. Tijuana's Eric Gagne came in third with a 12-1 record and 22 saves. Gagne's 1.47 ERA was tremendous, rivalled only by Columbia's Matt Mantei, who came in fifth, among finalists. Past winner, Mariano Rivera of Stanhope finished fourth. What of Rod Beck, who shared the save title with Smoltz? His nine losses and eight blown saves knocked him all the way down to seventh place.

Because of last year's dominance, Smoltz owns the top spot in all-time relief seasons, but now he is also tied for seventh with former Sugar Bear John Wetteland.