Johnson Finally At Peace Mariners’ Cy Young Award Winner Says Life Experiences Have Changed His Priorities

His hair is still long and he enjoys playing the drums. Photography remains a passion, he favors hard-rock music, he wants to pitch in the World Series and is still a grouch on the day he pitches.

Much about Randy Johnson hasn’t changed.

But there are subtle differences.

“Randy has really grown up, and things don’t bug him as much anymore,” Johnson’s wife, Lisa, said. “The difference between now and when we first met (five years ago) is incredible. Before, he would carry a bad mood for days.”

The evolution from sensitive most of the time to sensible some of the time has been the product of several events in Johnson’s life: the death of his father, marriage, becoming a dad and ascending to baseball super-stardom.

Following a workout at the Mariners’ spring-training complex this week, the major leagues’ most dominant pitcher and American League Cy Young Award winner talked about his past, present and future, and how he has changed as a pitcher and person. He is more relaxed and compatible on the days between starts.

“I have my priorities straight, largely because of what I went through after my dad died and what has happened since,” he said. “I have a wife, daughter (14-month-old Samantha) and a son on the way.”

On April 8, Lisa Johnson is due to give birth to Tanner Rollen Johnson, whose middle name will be the same as Johnson’s late father, better known as Bud.

Johnson still keeps a picture of his father on the shelf of his locker, and he may never completely get over the sadness of losing his dad. But life goes on.

In the first week of his 11th professional training camp, Johnson reflected on a career that began with the Montreal Expos in 1985 when he was still just a wild-throwing left-hander and moved, in 1989, to Seattle, where he has developed into the most feared pitcher in baseball.

His 18-2 record last season produced the best winning percentage (.900) in A.L. history. He also set a major-league record with 12.35 strikeouts per nine innings, and nearly became the first pitcher in 50 years to lead the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts. Johnson finished first in ERA at 2.54, led in strikeouts with 294 and was second in wins.

“I am having more fun in this game than ever because I’m not fighting myself,” Johnson said. “I’m still a perfectionist and want to pitch well every game. But before, when I had a bad game, I didn’t think the sun would come up the next day.

“I’m very happy with the way things have turned out for my off-the-field life and on the field. I really have a great life. I’m playing a sport I love and get grossly overpaid doing it. I’m not ashamed to say that.”

Johnson will collect $5.75 million this season in the third year of a four-year contract, and then possibly test the free-agent market.

He told a reporter the other day he wouldn’t mind pitching for the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998 and criticized Mariners management for putting more emphasis on getting a new stadium than improving the team.

Johnson later said the remarks were made in jest.

“I was just kidding the writer,” he said.

Figuring out Johnson sometimes is more difficult than trying to hit one of his high-octane fastballs or quick-breaking sliders. He can be moody at the blink of an eye. But blink again and he might be smiling.

“People think I’m mean because that’s my persona when I’m pitching,” he said, “but I’m not that way off the field. Actually, I’m very quiet and laid back.”

Teammates see him as the consummate professional and the closest thing to a guaranteed win in the game. The M’s were 27-3 last season in the games he started.

“I see a very confident individual coming to the ballpark every day,” No. 2 starter Chris Bosio said. “He realizes the stuff that he has and uses it to his advantage. In my mind, Randy always has been mature and confident, but he knows he’s at a very high level in this game.

“He has put things together the last couple of years like no one I ever have played with.”

Johnson realizes he has a tough act to follow - his own.

“I can get better,” he said.

“Winning motivates Randy and that really is what should motivate a professional athlete,” Mariners manager Lou Piniella said.

Johnson owns homes in Issaquah and the Phoenix area, but spends most of the baseball season living in Randy World.

“Randy is a lot different person during the season than the offseason,” Lisa Johnson said. “I don’t want to say he’s stressed during the season, but he’s so focused. His priorities are out on the ball field and I understand that.”

Said Johnson, “Lisa realizes that when the baseball season starts, I get more moody, short-tempered and focused. That is just my way. She has accepted it and I really appreciate that. Actually, I used to be more of a Jekyll and Hyde than I am now. I’m a little bit tamer.”

Except on the days he pitches.

“The first thing I do when I wake up is growl,” Johnson joked. “Actually, I just start preparing for the game, thinking about how I’m going to pitch certain guys. I get pretty focused.”

There isn’t much conversation in the Johnson house on the day he pitches. “That’s not a good day to ask him to make any decisions,” Lisa Johnson said, “and I let him initiate the conversation.”

It’s basically the same way in the clubhouse. He has a game-face like no one else on the team.

“When he walks in with a scowl on his face, I know we’re in good shape,” catcher Dan Wilson said.

Based on what Johnson has done since being acquired with Brian Holman and Gene Harris from the Montreal Expos on May 25, 1989, for Mark Langston and Mike Campbell, the Mariners are in good hands whenever he pitches.

“I’ve had three or four pretty good years (50-18 record since 1991) and I expect to have more good years,” the 32-year-old said. “When I first got to the major leagues, I was very hard on myself. I’m more sensible in a rational way now, but the desire to win is still the same and I have to work harder to stay ahead of the competition.”

Besides taking on more responsibilities as a family man, Johnson’s veteran status on the Mariners pitching staff makes him a lightning rod for young pitchers.

“In the three years I’ve been here,” Piniella said, “Randy has become more aware of his role on this club and in baseball in general. He has been kind of a teacher to young kids, a counselor.”

Johnson remembers his first spring-training camp with the Expos, who drafted him in the second round in 1985. “I was surrounded by veteran pitchers like Bryn Smith, Kevin Gross and Dennis Martinez and they helped me. It’s my turn to help others.

“There are so many young kids with the Mariners this spring,” he said. “It’s up to Boz and me to give these guys some guidance. Our job this season is going to be take care of what we have to do and help the younger guys.”