ST. PETERSBURG — Joba Chamberlain firmly believes he will pitch for the Yankees this season.
When, though, is something the right-handed reliever can’t deliver an accurate answer about.
“I can promise you I am going to pitch, I can promise you that,’’ Chamberlain said in the Yankees’ Tropicana Field clubhouse yesterday afternoon. “Tell everybody it’s going to happen.’’
Chamberlain is coming back from last summer’s Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and a dislocated right ankle suffered during a trampoline accident during spring training.
So, when does Chamberlain believe he will be ready to help a bullpen that generally has held up well despite Mariano Rivera’s departure in early May and wasn’t ruined by David Robertson spending time on the disabled list.
“We are going to take it one day at a time, but I can tell you it’s going to happen soon,’’ said Chamberlain, who threw 40 batting-practice pitches at the Yankees’ minor league complex yesterday morning and will throw a simulated game Friday. “We don’t have a date, we don’t have a set time, but we continue to cross stuff off the list. And I was able to cross another one off today.’’
Chamberlain is throwing, running and lifting weights without discomfort in the ankle, which has a fleshy scar on the outside of it.
As for the elbow …
“I totally forgot I had elbow surgery to be honest with you,’’ said Chamberlain, who explained that without the ankle injury he would have been back in the big leagues by now instead of building arm strength and awaiting a minor league rehab assignment. “My elbow has been great, we have had nothing there.’’
Chamberlain, who had ankle surgery March 22, was in the outfield shagging fly balls before last night’s game against the Rays and didn’t exhibit any signs of a player with a bad ankle.
“Pain-free, nothing,’’ Chamberlain said of the ankle. “I only wear tape when I do my bullpens, but not when I run and lift.’’
With manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild watching, Chamberlain impressed during the batting-practice session.
“I thought we would see pretty good and that’s what we saw,’’ Girardi said. “I thought he threw the ball good.’’
So, does Girardi have a date in mind when Chamberlain’s might be able to help a bullpen that was shuffled yesterday when a struggling Cory Wade was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Chad Qualls was activated after being acquired from the Phillies on Sunday?
“It’s too early to tell, but when you are throwing simulated games you are getting close to a (minor league) rehab assignment,’’ Girardi said.
So, what would Chamberlain add to the pen?
“He is a power arm and a strikeout guy,’’ Girardi said. “It could add a lot to get him back.’’
David Aardsma, another right-handed power-arm reliever who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, is awaiting tests after suffering a setback last week.
For the active Chamberlain, convincing himself this is a process that isn’t a matter of simply adding water has been the toughest part.
“Patience, I know there is light at the end of the tunnel, but being this close has been the hardest part,’’ Chamberlain said.
george.king@nypost.com