BASEBALL
Winkelsas pitches a late-night highlight
Buffalo native has perfect ninth in pro homecoming
By Mike Harrington
NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 05/04/08 6:46 AM
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- Joe Winklesas signs a poster for, from left, Kyle Schneider, Brendan Haywood and Matt Schneider on Thursday
Joe Winkelsas’ career in professional baseball has spanned 13 years and 16 teams. He’s endured trauma and triumph, overcome marijuana addiction, survived injuries and surgeries, trips through the independent leagues and a seven-year wait to get back to the majors. He even retired a couple of times.
As first chronicled by The News two years ago, Winkelsas’ rise from city of Buffalo garbage hauler to the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen in the summer of 2006 became fodder across the Internet and in virtually every major baseball notes column.
But the eight-pitch, 1-2-3 ninth inning of relief the Bishop Timon-St. Jude product threw late Friday night for the Charlotte Knights certainly stands as one of his signature career moments.
That’s because he did it at home, taking the Dunn Tire Park mound for the first time as a pro to wrap up a 10-3 win over the Buffalo Bisons.
“It was incredible,” a beaming Winkelsas said Saturday morning before the teams’ scheduled game was rained out. “After 13 years in professional ball, it was the first time I’ve ever pitched in Buffalo and it meant so much. Every time I was about to get here, it seemed like I got injured. This time, I came off [the disabled list] and got activated.
“It was great. My friends and family stuck around through the wait [an 84- minute rain delay] and had a great time. It was unbelieveable the way everything ended up. A strikeout. Fireworks. It was God’s grace, God’s glory.”
Winkelsas had not pitched since April 10 due to back soreness but looked fine as he set down the Bisons in less than three minutes. Taking the mound at 11:15 p. m. with fewer than 500 people in the stands, he threw seven strikes and was not behind a hitter.
Michael Aubrey and Aaron Herr, both former No. 1 draft picks, each grounded out weakly and Andy Gonzalez took a called third strike to end it.
“I had no control about being activated but I absolutely wanted to be playing in this series,” he said. “I’d go, ‘Is today the day?’ and they’d say it’s not. It was like that ‘Smurfs’ episode: ‘Are we there Papa Smurf? No, it’s not close.’ So finally they told me and I was like, ‘Let’s go get ’em.’ ”
Winkelsas has no record and a 3.00 earned-run average in four appearances for Charlotte, the Triple-A team of the Chicago White Sox. He’s likely to appear in relief again today, when the Knights and Bisons play a makeup doubleheader at 1:05 (Radio 1520 AM).
Winkelsas, a devout Christian, said he had more than 150 friends and family on hand Friday including his wife and 9-year-old son. His pastor, Sam Ciffa of Bethesda Full Gospel Tabernacle in Tonawanda, was bringing a group Saturday and they’ll all probably return.
“You hear some of the fellows from back in the day in the stands say some things and really get you going,” Winkelsas said. “I pitch with a lot of emotion anyway. The place where I vent is on the mound.”
Knights manager Marc Bombard, who led the Bisons to an American Association division title in 1992, knew Winkelsas was from Buffalo but didn’t know much about his story.
“I just know he’s from here and there’s a lot of people yelling for him [Friday],” cracked Bombard. “They were rowdy right above our dugout. You could feel it building when he was warming up. And he threw good for being out that long.
“He’s still got decent stuff, a sinker, a good slider at times,” Bombard added. “He’s got a heavy ball with sink and not a lot of guys can throw that. He keeps himself in good shape and he’s had a great attitude. A professional.”
Winkelsas, who made one appearance downtown as an amateur for Leib’s in the early 1990s, retired due to arm numbness following his seven-game stint for the Brewers in 2006. But he came back last year, combining to go 2-2, 3.00 in 19 outings between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Richmond in the Atlanta chain.
He had a stretch of 26 scoreless innings, with more than half of those against White Sox affiliates. So the Sox took another chance on him and put him back in Charlotte, where he pitched in 2004 and 2005. He’s once again another phone call away from the bigs.
“It’s a constant battle with this game,” Winkelsas said. “But it keeps drawing you back because you learn so much. I keep telling my parents that baseball is the second greatest teacher I’ve ever had, the Bible being No. 1. I say, ‘Don’t take it personally, Mom and Dad, because you were very instrumental in what I’ve done.’
“But baseball teaches you how to trust, forgive, figure things out, pay attention to detail, how to make adjustments, live with 25 guys, bear one an-other’s burdens. It makes you a better husband, better father. This lifestyle still grabs you.”
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The rainout was Buffalo’s first at home this season. Tickets can be exchanged at the ballpark box office for any future game, excluding special events.
Saturday’s scheduled starter, Adam Miller, will go for the Bisons in the opener today. He’s pitched nine innings without allowing an earned run in two no-decisions. Jason Stanford will go in the nightcap.
