Since he first wore a Yankees uniform on Aug. 7, 2007, Joba Chamberlain has been more than just a pitcher. Always, he has been a symbol, a story.
First a symbol of front-office perspicacity, then a story of new-age baseball overthinking. Then a reminder of pitching’s perils. Then a public-service announcement against excessive trampoline usage.
When he took the mound yesterday at Yankee Stadium, his first appearance in a big league game since June 5 of last year, the right-hander took the form of a crowd-pleasing comeback, getting a “Welcome back!” from public address announcer Paul Olden and drawing a standing ovation.
That should change now. The Joba Rules should be dumbed down to just this: The Yankees really could use his help not as a symbol, story or source of debate, but just as a pitcher.
“I don’t come here just to take my towels and go out there and play catch,” Chamberlain said, after the Yankees ended a four-game losing streak, and averted a sweep, by pounding the Orioles, 12-3. “I want to be in the game. Obviously I’ve got to prove that. I’m fine with that.
“They believe in me to do my work and to understand how hard I’ve worked and how good my stuff has been. I’ll come back on Friday and go to work.”
“I expect him to be a right-hander that gets right-handers and left-handers out. Just not a specialty guy,” manager Joe Girardi said. “And that’s how I’m going to integrate him. As he throws better, you obviously give people more responsibility.”
He didn’t throw very well yesterday, relieving starter Phil Hughes to start the seventh and allowing two runs and four hits, walking one and striking out none in 1 2⁄3 innings of work. The first batter he faced, J.J. Hardy, drilled a slider that hit the top of the left-field wall and bounced over for a homer.
The fastball topped out at 93 mph and averaged a tick under 92, according to Brooks Baseball. His fastball last year averaged 94.3 mph, according to FanGraphs.
“His fastball had decent life to it, but he wasn’t as sharp as I’ve seen him in the past,” catcher Russell Martin said. “Just get your feet wet, get that first outing of the way and now we can go to work.”
That would be welcomed by the Yankees. Shoot, they would take the whole “should he start or relieve?” debate again if it meant Chamberlain was healthy and pitching well.
He underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on June 16, 2011, and at the outset of spring training, he was progressing so well that a June 2012 seemed reasonable. Then came the trampoline injury in March, as horsing around with his son led to an open dislocation of his right ankle.
At the time, Chamberlain’s career seemed in jeopardy — forget about his 2012. He vowed to return this season, however, and he backed that up yesterday.
“Joba has been a guy who’s been able to heal fairly quickly,” Girardi said. “I’ve never ruled him out.”
“You have to take a minute to embrace the fact that there are so many people that care, that followed my journey back here,” Chamberlain said. “I’m thankful for that. Obviously, I didn’t give them what they wanted. But I can say I went out there and gave everything I had. I’m going to go ahead and move this one on, turn the page.”
He turns 27 in September, and he will be eligible for free agency after next season. He is no longer a phenom, or a phenomenon. He is a near-veteran who has re-entered the Yankees Universe at a time when they could use the help.
Cody Eppley, Boone Logan and Clay Rapada, three of the Yankees’ unsung bullpen heroes of this season, have slowed down this month, although Rapada relieved Chamberlain yesterday and fanned the two batters he faced. If Chamberlain proves healthy and reliable enough, he could become the Yankees’ primary seventh-inning guy, allowing Girardi to utilize his three specialists more judiciously.
The bar is set low for the guy who once electrified this place. The payoff, however, could be high.
kdavidoff@nypost.com