Of course Joba Chamberlain made it all the way to Trenton before he found out instead of another rehab appearance with the Double-A affiliate, he was going to rejoin the Yankees for the first time in over a year.
“When I got to Trenton, I was literally pulling into the parking lot and Stevie [Donohue, trainer] called and said, ‘You might want to turn around,’ ” Chamberlain said after being activated from the 60-day disabled list before the Yankees’ 11-5 loss to Baltimore last night at the Stadium. “My heart started beating fast. I didn’t know what happened.”
Chamberlain, who did not pitch last night, took Chad Qualls’ spot in the bullpen after Qualls was traded to Pittsburgh yesterday in exchange for infielder Casey McGehee.
“I talked to my trainer today and said, ‘Hey, listen, if we trade and lose Chad Qualls, is there any medical reason that would be of concern to activate Joba starting tonight?’ ” general manager Brian Cashman said. “He said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘OK.’ ”
So after Tommy John surgery, a dislocated right ankle and other injuries and setbacks, Chamberlain’s long, winding road back to The Bronx was complete. He arrived about 90 minutes before game time, thanks to his Twitter followers telling him to avoid the tunnel and take the George Washington Bridge.
“I guess this is the way my career has gone: Fast and not really knowing what’s going to happen,” said Chamberlain, who gave up one run and struck out 10 over 9 1/3 innings in seven rehab appearances. “I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The Yankees certainly could use the help. The bullpen has held up well despite being without Chamberlain this season and Mariano Rivera since May, but the hard-throwing right-hander is expected to give it a power arm that has been missing.
Unfortunately with the way the Yankees have been playing, Chamberlain also can’t join the rotation and fill in as a corner infielder.
But Chamberlain said he is confident he can help out of the bullpen immediately.
He is expected to be able to pitch two innings in today’s series finale against the Orioles if needed.
“I don’t think there’s any easing [into things],” Chamberlain said. “It’s going to be all go and that’s the way I want it. I don’t want any — dare I even say — ‘Joba rules.’ I don’t want any of that. I can just go. I can give them 30-40 pitches. I did it three times during the stretch of coming back.”