Marauders Fall to Annenberg's Short-Handed Crew

Pitcher's duel runs away from Marauders in 3rd inning. Bad blood continues on field.
By Bob Loblaw, Voice Writer
June 1, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CA. — From the look of the first three innings of play Monday night, you would have thought that it was Spahn and Marichal on the mound.

For those readers who are not familiar with baseball history, Warren Spahn and Juan Marichal matched each other pitch-for-pitch over 16 innings one blustery San Francisco evening at Candlestick Park in 1963.

Monday night, pitchers for the Marauders and All-Stars retired the first 6 batters they faced in what started out as a classic pitching duel. Too bad each team was pitching to itself.

But, what started out as a couple of 1-2-3 innings ended up as a grudge match with the All-Stars running away with an 8-4 victory.

Annenberg's starting pitcher, Ben Chase came out of the 1st with a pair of strikeouts against his own teammates. But that didn't stop the All-Stars from putting up 4 runs in the 3rd and 2 in the 4th, including a pair off of a home run by Chase.

"Man, that was tough," pitcher Neil Teixeira remarked after the game. "Our defense was playing well and their pitcher was helping us out. Too bad I couldn't help us out. I pitched a lousy game, pure and simple. Lobbing balls at the ankles and then flinging 'em at past the eyeballs. Dumb."

Some batters were particularly affected by the inconsistent pitching. Designated hitter Dominic Lau went 0-2 with a groundout and a strikeout.

The DH was not at all pleased with his foul ball strikeout saying, "I'm a klutz. I need to get my eyes checked because all the pitches looked good to me. I just had a bad game."

Rookie 1st baseman Mike Andrelczyk, who came away with a single and an RBI in his only plate appearance, felt differently about Lau's at-bats. "The guy has so much power it's tough to lay off those slow, lobbed pitches." Andrelczyk added, "As long as "Big Papi" doesn't get down on himself and get into a real slump, we'll be fine. Dom's gonna be hitting dingers in no time."

But even when the Marauders hit the ball, Anneberg was there to make the outs. The All-Stars were undoubtedly impressive on the defensive side of the ball, playing extraordinarily well with as few as 7 players on the field, and holding the Marauder's offense to 4 runs scattered over 7 frames.

"You've got to give them credit for fighting through a shallow roster," outfielder Westley Nguyen remarked, "but they were also trying to get away with 5 guys and 3 girls in the 5th inning."

Nguyen pointed out that IMREC rules state: "7 players are required to start a game" and "40% of fielders must be women." That prompted the Marauder's skipper to remind Chase, the All-Star's manager, that they could only field 7 players in the 6th.

Unfortunately, tensions between the teams had already been stoked over a base running mistake at 1st base and a close call at 2nd.

Chase was not pleased when Teixeira approached him between innings. "He basically told me that if we were going to pick on their roster issues, then they would be happy to call our players out when they round first base."

Things took a turn for the worse when Teixeira's repeated calls for "time" in the outfield were not heard by Annenberg's pitcher and batter. The subsequent pitch was hit and snared by shortstop Binh Tran for an out.

When the All-Star's sent the batter to the plate again, the Marauder's skipper argued that the batter should be out since the call for "time" was ignored until after the hitter made the out.

"To be perfectly honest," an irritated Teixeira grumbled, "if you're pitching to your own team and you ignore repeated calls for "time", then I'm not going to care when you line out. Every pitch, you're supposed to check the outfield to see if the other team is ready."

Teixeira added, "I can only get so mad at the All-Star's. I hate IMREC for putting us all in the position where we have to argue every call because they're too cheap, too lazy or too full of themselves to hire umpires. I mean, they're not all too busy playing softball, I hope. I know for a fact that one IMREC staff member was a scab for Annenberg tonight, so it just goes to show that they don't care about rules."

But once the clouds of anger and frustration passed overhead, you could definitely see some bright spots.

Third baseman Jared Laux went 2-2 with a single, a double and a run scored. His production was a major turn-around from his slumping finish last season.

"I was happy with my hitting," Laux said with a straight face, "but, I was pretty upset about my base running error. I cost us a chance at keeping the inning alive."

Asked about his hot bat to start the season Laux credited a special conditioning regimen. "Basically, a power-lunch at McD's and at about 7 sodas throughout the day propelled me through the game." The third baseman sarcastically added, "It really showed on the bases."

Kevin Chan, who played center field, also went 2-2, slapping a pair of singles and collecting an RBI and a run. Chan smiled after the game and said, "It's nice to start the season off batting .1000. Too bad we couldn't pull out the win."

The ladies had a solid showing as well, with rookie right fielder Juli Legat knocking two base hits in her three plate appearances and 2nd baseman Nadia Barosy collecting two singles and scoring a run, despite playing through an injury suffered during a collision at first base.

"Even when I'm not right," said Barosy, "I get hits. So, you know, I just go to battle, and keep preparing the way I'm preparing. Because I never go down. That's me, man."

The second baseman added, referencing a certain former Red Sox slugger, "I guess, you know, when you don't feel good and you still get hits, that's when you know you are a bad gal."

Trinidad Handed 50-day Suspension

Scandal rocks Marauders as All-Star catcher caught using performance-enhancers. Suckow to replace Trinidad in line-up.
By Bob Loblaw, Voice Writer
May 29, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CA. — Let’s just chalk this up to “Patty being Patty.”

Patty Trinidad joined a growing lineup of players linked to performance enhancers Thursday, with the All-Star catcher suspended for 50 days by a sport that cannot shake free from scandal.

News of the catcher’s suspension has spread quickly throughout the sporting world. In St. Louis, a clubhouse attendant stuck his head into manager Tony La Russa's office and said, "Patty Trinidad, 50 games, steroids."

La Russa's reaction: "You're kidding me."

In Los Angeles, the reaction was much more somber."It's a dark day for softball and certainly for this organization," Marauders owner Binh Tran told reporters during a press conference at MAPP headquarters.

"This organization will never condone cheating of any kind, especially if it gets out in the open. We try to protect our family and deal with this type of stuff internally, now that you media idiots know, well, we will deal with it."

The MAPP Marauders star, who led the team in runs production two seasons ago (Read Story), said she did not take steroids and was prescribed medication by a doctor that contained a banned substance.

The commissioner's office didn't announce the specific violation by the three-year starter, who apologized to the Marauders and fans for "this whole situation."

Trinidad, in a statement issued by the players' union, said: "Recently, I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me.

"Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now."

Trinidad has been no stranger to gossip columns and hot-stove reports since she first landed on the Marauders’ roster in 2007. Shortly after her first game as a Marauder, she demanded a trade that set the whole front office scrambling (Read Story). There have also been grumblings by teammates over the past two seasons about her commitment to the team.

Third baseman Jared Laux commented, “Man, this really sucks. You know, I’ve been hitting over .600 for the past two seasons with a handful of dingers – two in a game I might add – and this is what you come to talk to me about?! Some ‘roided out catcher?! I have no comment, except I’m the best hitter on the team and I’m getting asked stupid questions about players on the juice.”

Trinidad had scheduled an appeal and IMREC officials were in Los Angeles to meet with her on Wednesday. Trinidad, however, withdrew the appeal Wednesday for the scheduled meeting and accepted the suspension.

"We share the disappointment felt by our fans, our players, and every member of our organization," Marauders CEO Kelly Goulis said in a team-issued statement. "We support the policies of IMREC Softball, and we will welcome Patty back upon her return."

Marauders manager Neil Teixeira says Trinidad feels she disappointed her team.

"She feels very badly. Right now she's trying to gather her thoughts," Teixeira said Friday during a press conference before the Marauders held their first practice of the season.

"The worst thing I think a person can be is a disappointment to somebody else, and Patty feels like a disappointment."

Teixeira said he found out about Trinidad's suspension during an early morning phone call from team owner Binh Tran. Both said they were surprised and saddened at the news.

Speaking to the rest of the team during a closed-door meeting before batting practice, Teixeira emerged from the dugout with a dejected look.

"The mood was sad in the clubhouse," he said. "You can't have someone who's as much of an impact player and personality as Patty missing without it affecting people."

"I think most guys will trust a physician, right or wrong," Teixeira said. "I always emphasize to our players, minor league players especially, don't take anything unless a team doctor gives it to you. A team doctor."

Designated hitter Dominic Lau was angered by the whole affair. "How can they take away one of our best players at the start of the season like this?! I have no doubt that the IMREC league has a vendetta against us. I want to see proof! I want to see the lab tests myself!"

Lau was eventually calmed down by his manager.

Marauders back-up catcher Carolyn Suckow said that even though Trinidad makes them a better team, they are still capable of winning games without her."She's an RBI machine, so it's definitely going to be tough," Suckow said.

"But what can you do? You've just got to move on and keep plugging away. You have to take it either as a challenge, or in my case, an opportunity. And that's what I’m going to do."

Trinidad is expected to serve her 50-day suspension immediately, retroactive to Thursday, May 28th. That puts her return date at Saturday, July 18th. If that date rings a bell it's because the IMREC tournament is held on that same day.

"I'm just going to keep myself game-ready," Trinidad said. "I might not be able to play in any of the regular-season games, but I can sure as hell be ready for the playoffs."