Brewers right-hander Joba Chamberlain works to fit in, on and off the field
PHOENIX - It was only his first live batting practice session of spring camp but right-hander Joba Chamberlain already had his thought process cranking in midseason mode Wednesday.
“You have to get prepared for the season,” said Chamberlain, a veteran reliever trying to make the Milwaukee Brewers’ roster as a non-roster player. “This is getting us prepared for not only being out there in April, but to keep that mindset throughout the year. That’s the thing.
“I was talking to (hitters) afterward and they said, ‘You were trying to set us up the whole time.’ I’m treating each at-bat as a different situation. I just try to create games with myself. Sometimes, it’s hard in these situations. But when you get a little adrenaline and get those things going, it’s a lot of fun.”
With that in mind, Chamberlain, 31, played out different scenarios in his head, such as runner on third with one out, how he might attack the hitter in that situation, and so on. Granted, it was the first time facing hitters this spring, but he was pleased afterward.
“It’s always nice getting out there and getting some feedback, and just trying to see where you’re at,” said Chamberlain, who was complimentary of the work minor-leaguer Rene Garcia did catching him. “You can throw a bullpen (session) but having a hitter in there, trying to get some reaction with swings and check swings, it was nice to get out there.
“I feel really good. I had some good sequences out there. The biggest key is being aggressive with your fastball, both sides of the plate. I did a very good job of that today, I think. Obviously, there’s a long way to go but it was definitely a good start.”
The Brewers would love Chamberlain to pitch well enough to make it an easy decision to add him to their roster. In the interim, manager Craig Counsell said younger players would be well served to soak up as much knowledge as they can from Chamberlain, who has pitched in 385 regular-season games as well as 21 postseason contests, mostly with the New York Yankees after arriving as a much-ballyhooed prospect.
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“What he brings to the table is experience,” Counsell said. “He has experienced more than most players will ever experience. He has an opportunity to help in that regard.
“He has been the ‘famous’ prospect; he has definitely been that. He has had big success. He has struggled. He has had injuries. He has pitched in World Series games. He brings a lot of experience and a lot of perspective.
“He is at a point in his career where he enjoys the ability to put on a uniform and be able to come out here and compete. That’s a good spot to be in.”
It certainly didn’t take Chamberlain long to fit in the Brewers’ clubhouse. Gregarious, fun seeking and always in the middle of the give-and-take with teammates, he is anything but inconspicuous.
“At the end of the day, to get respect you have to earn respect,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to play the game for a while, but it doesn’t start there or stop there. It’s earning the respect of your teammates by working hard and trying to help in any aspect, whether it’s on the field or off the field.
“I know how hard it can be to be a young guy and in camp. Between the lines we’re all the same, but you’re going to get razzed a little bit. If we didn’t do it, we wouldn’t love you or care about you. At the end of the day, we want you to play just as long as we did so you can do the same for others.”
Then, lifting up his sweat-stained cap, Chamberlain smiled and said, “My hairline tells me I’m the old guy. But it’s so fun to see this young energy, just to know how much there is ahead for them. When you get there, it’s an unbelievable feeling.”