"Is it the added pounds? The lowering of his hands? The possibility that he is pitching for a big league roster spot? Or, for the first time ever, not switching roles during the offseason?

Whatever the reason, Joba Chamberlain looked good in one inning in the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Phillies yesterday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, and that's all that matters.

The fastball reached 94 mph. The slider had bite — just ask Wilson Valdez who whiffed on a filthy 87-mph slider. All five pitches were strikes in a perfect third inning.

"My hands are lower this year," said Chamberlain, who dropped them from the chest to the belt buckle to remove the side-to-side movement in his deliver. "I [stunk] last year."

For Chamberlain to be at 94 mph in the first outing was impressive. And it spoke to being strong, something the Yankees were concerned about when the right-hander surfaced in camp heavier than the 240 listed in the media guide.

"I have never been at 94-95 this early," Chamberlain said. "I was able to pitch off my fastball, and I haven't been able to do that."

Before you get too carried away and believe the Chamberlain is close to being the bullet-throwing reliever of 2007, slow down."