Joba released from hospital in a special cast

A somber looking Joba Chamberlain was wheeled out of Tampa's St. Joseph's Hospital in a wheelchair with his right ankle in a special cast.

Wearing glasses and an Adidas cap covering his grim and stubbled face, the Yankees reliever didn't answer questions except if he was feeling better after the gruesome injury to his right ankle.

"Yeah," was his reply.

The one thing everyone wanted to know what were those tubes sticking out of the cast on his right foot?

According to Dr. Peter Salob, a sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon in Englewood, N.J., they are most likely tubes used to pump cool water around the pitcher's ankle.

"It's definitely a more aggressive measure to treat it, but with pro sports teams, any type of injury they have , usually they will use some type of ice machine," said Salob.  "This is really critical.  With the type of injury he had, often there's a significant amount of swelling  around the ankle and that's one way to reduce the swelling."

The news that Chamberlain was leaving the hospital and was feeling better was good news for the Yankees.  After Thursday's accident while jumping on a trampoline, there was talk that the severe break was career-ending and even life-threatening.

"It's good to see him out, that he's doing well," said manager Joe Girardi.  "Obviously, the wound has to close up to get through that.  But I am optimistic that he is going to pitch for us this year, I am. And we're going to be there for him the whole  way."

The frustrated Chamberlain— who is already recovering from Tommy John surgery last year— vowed to be back on the mound by this July.