LIP SERVICE: After a strong first inning of the spring, mustache-wearing Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain said he has the ability to be a starter or closer. (N.Y. Post Charles Wenzelberg )
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Joba Chamberlain will neither start nor close games this season for the Yankees unless things go terribly wrong with other pitchers.
However, the thought of doing one of those jobs is dancing inside Chamberlain’s head as he enters his final season before free agency.
After a brilliant inning against the Phillies at Bright House Field yesterday in which he fanned two and pushed the fastball to 93 mph in his first spring training appearance, Chamberlain was asked whether he wanted to close.
“At some point, yes,” Chamberlain said before bringing up the possibility of becoming a starter as well. “It’s one of those things. Do I have four pitches I can throw for strikes? Yes. Do I have two pitches I can throw at any time? Yes. I guess I am trying to have my cake and eat it, too. I feel I am in a position to do both and I have proven I can [start or relieve]. I want to do one or the other. I found my confidence in the bullpen and if I get a chance to start — wherever that’s at — without a doubt.”
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Since Chamberlain’s last start in 2009, he has worked exclusively as a middle-to-late-inning reliever. It’s a role where there is a lot less money to be made than in starting or closing.
Based on the reactions of manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman, Chamberlain’s job isn’t going to change this season. Girardi did not try to mask his disappointment to be answering questions about Chamberlain being a starter again.
“We have not,’’ Girardi said, cutting off a question as to whether the Yankees have talked about Chamberlain being a starter.
“I don’t know. There would have to be a lot of stamina to build up and we would be back to innings limit. We like him out of the pen. We thought [his stuff] played well there, and I think it will this year.’’
Cashman’s response was sarcastic.
“We are also down an outfield bat right now. See if he can play center,” Cashman said.
Chamberlain may have been using the media to make his case, but he has not approached the Yankees for a change of jobs.
“I don’t lobby for nothing,’’ said Chamberlain, who has undergone Tommy John surgery and fractured his ankle in the past two seasons. “I learned you have to show up every day. I can’t worry about what the future holds.’’
It was clear Chamberlain wants to end up as a closer or starter next year. Those jobs are not available with the Yankees, who view David Robertson as Mariano Rivera’s replacement as closer and long since have given up on Chamberlain as a starter.
When Chamberlain surfaced in 2007, he looked like an eventual heir to Rivera. He dominated with a triple-digit fastball and a filthy slider, fanning 34 in 24 innings (19 games), walking six and allowing a dozen hits.
The Yankees were so seduced by Chamberlain’s right arm, they introduced the Joba Rules to keep it healthy.
The following year, the Yankees made a bad decision to make him a starter. He suffered a shoulder injury during an August start in Texas that landed him on the disabled list. Though he made 31 starts in 2009, the Yankees knew by the end of the season Chamberlain’s best chances of helping were as a reliever. After 43 big league starts, Chamberlain moved to the bullpen.
george.king@nypost.com