The Madison Wolves were a disaster, and every night at Shotz Stadium the fans made sure everyone knew it. “SELL THE TEAM!” chants echoed through the ballpark like a broken record. The Wolves were sleepwalking toward their first 100-loss season in over a decade, and morale was at an all-time low.
But Gertie knew the truth: this wasn’t a talent problem—(editors note: well maybe kinda)— it was a leadership problem.
And she was about to fix that.
Pulling the Strings
Late one night, Gertie met with GM Simon in his office, well after the lights had gone out in the stadium. She didn’t come empty-handed—two glasses, a 12pack of a TIPA, and a folder labeled “The Future”.
Simon took one look at it and groaned. “What now?”
She slid it across the desk. “The kids.”
Simon flipped it open, scanning the names. Top draft picks, young talent wasting away in the minors, blocked for no good reason. He frowned. "Ahmed wanted these guys stashed. Didn’t want to pay them down the line."
Gertie smirked. “Ahmed’s not here. You are.”
Simon exhaled slowly. The fans wanted something to believe in. The team needed something to shake it up. Maybe this was it.
“Let’s do it.”
The Call-Ups & Position Shake-Ups
Within 24 hours, GM Simon made some calls, and the Wolves announced major roster moves:
LF Gary Fellers (21 years old)
- 2060 Draft, 1st Round, 5th Pick
- First Sim Stats: 19 PA, 3 H, RBI, 2B, 3 K
- A speedster with raw talent, Fellers had the tools to be a difference-maker. The team immediately inserted him into left field, a move fans had been begging for.
3B Curt Holter (22 years old)
- 2059 Draft, 1st Round, 10th Pick
- First Sim Stats: 19 PA, 6 H, 2 RBI, 2B, 3 BB, K
- A contact hitter with a disciplined eye, Holter wasn’t just called up—he was named the starting third baseman, sending another underperforming veteran to the bench.
RP Mauro Ruiz (27 years old)
- 2056 Draft, 18th Round, 572nd Pick
- First Sim Stats: 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 K, 3 BB, 6 H, HR
- A long shot who clawed his way through the system, Ruíz was never supposed to make it. But despite a rocky debut, the Wolves wanted his fire in the bullpen.
OF Gary Keller Moves from LF to CF
- Keller, a solid defensive outfielder, shifted to center field, filling the void left by Rafael Pérez.
- This move freed up left field for Fellers, creating a younger, more athletic outfield.
The Casualty: Rafael Perez Demoted
While young stars were getting their shots, one struggling veteran paid the price.
CF Rafael Pérez was sent down to Triple-A after a truly abysmal season:
108 Games, .179 AVG, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 88 K, -21.03 ZR. "Placing a garbage can to catch balls in CF would have been a better option!" Gertie said after a few TIPAs.
Pérez had once been seen as a key part of the Wolves' future, but his bat had vanished, his glove had turned to stone, and his confidence had evaporated.
The message was clear: If you can’t perform, you’re gone.
And the fans? They loved it.
The Shake-Up
This wasn’t just about calling up prospects—it was about taking control of the roster.
- Curt Holter was handed the starting 3B job, with no safety net.
- Gary Fellers became the everyday LF, with the coaching staff told to let him play through struggles.
- Gary Keller moved from LF to CF, a defensive adjustment that solidified the outfield.
- Mauro Ruíz was given real innings, rather than being buried in the minors.
The Wolves were still far from contenders.
They might still lose 100 games.
But for the first time in a long time, they were interesting.
Fan Reaction: A Glimmer of Hope
For the first time all season, there was life in Shotz Stadium
The ballpark, which had been half-empty and filled with boos, was buzzing as Holter lined a double into the gap, Fellers beat out an infield single, and even Ruíz—despite some shaky innings—got a standing ovation after a clutch strikeout.
The Wolves were still a work in progress, but at least now they were trying.
Gertie’s Quiet Satisfaction
From her usual seat behind home plate, Gertie watched it all unfold. She didn’t celebrate. She didn’t gloat. She just sipped her drink and let a small, knowing smile creep across her face.
Because this wasn’t just about winning a few games.
This was about taking control.
And step by step, move by move, the Wolves were becoming hers.
