DETROIT — Not even the surreal sensation of “Linsanity” — born when the Knicks’ Jeremy Lin exploded into the public eye — compared to the hysteria of “Joba Mania.”
The excitement created by Joba Chamberlain out of the bullpen with 100-mph thunder and a killer slider virtually was unmatched by any individual furor New York had seen. And New York had seen just about everything.
“Joba was the guy,” John Gibbons said, recalling June 3, 2008, when, during his first tour as Toronto manager, his Blue Jays were the foil for Chamberlain’s first MLB start. “It was big time excitement. We had a pretty good pitcher going for us and no one even noticed.”
Toronto starter Roy Halladay was an afterthought. Everything was “Joba.” Toronto’s Shannon Stewart expressed it best that night.
“I thought Ruth had come back,” Stewart said.
Chamberlain recalled the craziness of the game when, on a pitch count, he lasted 2¹/₃ innings.
“It feels like yesterday, and it also feels like 10 years ago,” Chamberlain said.
After he exploded onto the scene in 2007, there were moments of greatness, moments to forget, even moments with midges in Cleveland during Chamberlain’s stay with the Yankees. But that time did not measure up to the expectations. It couldn’t have or he’d be immortalized on Olympus already.
So following injuries, the “Joba Rules” designed to limit innings, moves in-and-out of the rotation, it seemed to all concerned that a change of scenery was best last offseason after seven Yankee years.
“Looking back, I was doing a lot but my [thinking] was, ‘I’m never going to get this chance again,’ ” Chamberlain said. “There were times I should have said no to certain appearances, but I don’t regret any of it.”
Chamberlain, 28, is the eighth-inning guy in Detroit’s bullpen now. Monday, he returns to Yankee Stadium for the first time.
“I’m excited and there’s so many emotions,” said Chamberlain, who brings a 3.02 ERA and American League-best 22 holds to The Bronx. “It’s where I grew up as a man, it’s where they saw my son grow up. I had good years, I had bad years. I got the experience of a World Series, I got to open a new stadium, throw in the last game in the old stadium with the history that place had.
“The seven years I spent there were unbelievable. They gave me the opportunity to play this game. I’m so grateful. It’s where everything started for me.”
He admits he has no idea where Yankee Stadium’s visiting clubhouse is or how fans will greet him — “I honestly don’t know. I gave them everything I had every time.” Plus, “New York City is a special place and will always have a special place in my heart.”
Chamberlain became a low-cost, one-year, $2.5 million incentive-laden investment for the Tigers, who generally have been haunted by their bullpen with relievers pitching as if possessed by the spirit of Jose Valverde. The investment looks prudent.
“He’s been outstanding, been more than anybody could ask,” starter Justin Verlander said.
“He’s been our most consistent relief pitcher. He locked up the eighth-inning role early in the season,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “He’s pitched extremely well.”
“I knew I had to earn it,” Chamberlain said of his role. “I had a terrible year last year, but I understood coming in the value I brought [to the Tigers].”
His performance has been more like what was envisioned by the Yankees, who used him as a reliever, hoped he’d become a dominant starter, then returned him to the bullpen. But he had years of injury.
There was 2008 rotator cuff tendinitis, 2011 Tommy John surgery, the spring 2012 ankle injury suffered on a trampoline. Chamberlain was ripped heavily for being on a trampoline but waved off criticism. He was with his son, Karter. He was being a dad.
“I will always be a father first and foremost,” Chamberlain said. “The game of baseball is always second. I don’t regret anything about it.”
With Detroit, there has been more praise than criticism, even if the fastball is not quite the lethal force it once was.
“He’s anywhere from 92 to 95 [mph],” Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones said. “And he’s got quality secondary stuff. His curveball and slider are both good and he’s not afraid to throw them. We wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in right now, in the first place, without Joba.”
As much as the Tigers talk about Chamberlain on the mound, they rave about him off the field. Freed of Yankees facial-hair constraints, Chamberlain wears a beard suitable for Civil War re-enacting. His personality is contagious. He’s everybody’s BFF.
Another ex-Yankee, Phil Coke, stressed Chamberlain is simply being himself.
“He’s got a lot of confidence and he’s pitching with it. My view: He doesn’t feel like he’s got to be quelled. The guy’s like a firestorm,” Coke said. “He’s funny, he’s always up, always having a good time. It’s hard to be yourself when it may or may not be something that’s welcome.”
The Yankee Way can be straightlaced.
Chamberlain could have used some cheery times last season. He admitted “sadness” at the parting.
“Change isn’t always the easiest but sometimes it’s for the best,” Chamberlain said. “I probably spent more time with [teammates] in seven years than I spent with my family. Baseball is an unbelievable game and I’m so grateful, but the friendships you make are going to last forever. You can only play baseball for so long.”
The memories undoubtedly will overwhelm this week: learning from Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett; soaking up advice from Mariano Rivera; the legend that is Derek Jeter. And yes, Chamberlain wants to face Jeter.
“For not only being his teammate but being his friend and also him being one of the greatest players ever,” Chamberlain said. “I would like to have that one at-bat to get that head nod I’ve seen for so long. He’s going to head nod me, I’m going to stick my tongue out at him.”
Jeter and friends may have one question for Chamberlain: What’s the deal with the beard? Is it a facial fashion statement? A cry for help?
“I think the beard is more ‘I haven’t been able to do this is my career and now I can,’ ” Verlander said.
But Chamberlain wants to show the Yankees more than whiskers.
“When you go play old teammates, you want to stick it to them,” Ausmus said. “Not because you dislike anyone but you want to say, ‘Hey, I’m still good.’”