"When Joba Chamberlain heard that his fastball was clocked up near 95 mph on Saturday, the Yankees' reliever was surprised.

"It felt like I was throwing bowling balls out there, to be honest with you," he said, adding that he didn't think his velocity had been that high this early in spring training "in five or six years."

Chamberlain, who worked a perfect inning in the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Phillies, has been dogged by questions about his role and his weight this spring but said it felt good to be back pitching in a game.

"You miss that competitive edge," he said.

With Rafael Soriano now the primary setup man for Mariano Rivera, Chamberlain's spot in the bullpen is murkier, and there has been speculation that the Yankees would consider trading him. Whatever happens, Chamberlain wants to improve on an inconsistent 2010 and believes a tweak to his pitching motion - he now sets his hands at his waist instead of holding them at his chest before delivering - will help considerably."