Johnson eager to regain his postseason form
Newbury Park grad, now pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, struggled with injuries this year
By Steve Ames Special to the Acorn

Tyler Johnson

While he appears relaxed in the St. Louis Cardinals' bullpen, chatting with teammates during a game's early innings, left-handed relief pitcher Tyler Johnson, a 1999 Newbury Park High graduate, is fixated on his job.

Johnson watches with increased intensity when a game enters the seventh or eighth inning, its outcome on the line and the other team's left-handed hitters about to take their at-bats.

"Being a situational lefthander, I take pride in it," said Johnson, 26, a 6foot2, 200pound hurler who was born in Columbia, Mo.

"I come in when the game is on the line and you've got to get guys out. That's the name of the game for me," said Johnson.

During the Big League World Series in the summer of 1998 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Johnson's pitching contributed significantly to his Conejo Valley AllStars District 13 team's World Series title.

At Newbury Park High in 1999- where he was also a wide receiver on the football team- Johnson was named Marmonte League and Ventura County Pitcher of the Year. He capped his high school career in the Bernie Milligan All-Star Game by being selected MVP after his West team beat the East, 9-6, in nine innings at Stengel Field in Glendale.

In college, while pitching for the Moorpark College Raiders in 2000, he was named first-team All-Western State Conference. During his initial three of six minor league seasons, Johnson was a starter, but from the day of his major league debut on Sept. 6, 2005, he has been a reliever.

His role solely depends on the opposition's lineup.

"Being in the bullpen and being a specialist in the bullpen are different," he said.

In the 2006 postseason, when the Cardinals won a world championship, Johnson appeared in 10 games, posting a 1.23 ERA in 7.1 innings of work.

Prior to the Cardinals' ring ceremony at Busch Stadium in April of this year, Johnson said, "It's one of those things I will cherish for the rest of my life."

Dave Duncan, the Cardinal pitching coach and a catcher during his major league playing days from 1964-76, commented in July at Busch Stadium about Johnson, saying he was pleased with the southpaw's performance, especially during the 2006 postseason.

"Tyler is very valuable to our ballclub," Duncan said. "He has a perfect profile for a left-handed reliever. He has an unorthodox delivery; he's got a very good breaking ball, and . . . there was enough consistency that he was able to help us get through the World Series."

Duncan said Johnson is a fierce competitor.

"I think that in time he's going to be looked at as one of the top relievers in the game," Duncan said.

This past season for St. Louis, Johnson pitched 38 innings and was 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA, with 24 strikeouts and 16 walks.

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 22 with left biceps tendonitis. Johnson was activated Aug. 6 and returned to his middle-relief role.

After spending parts of the past two seasons on the disabled list, Johnson said he realizes that his October-February regimen of conditioning needed to expand.

"As far as my arm, I have to do a lot better job of conditioning during the offseason, and not just saying it, but actually doing it," he said. "I didn't feel like I was mentally and physically okay for this season, but I somehow scraped by, which was interesting to see.

"During the '06 postseason and World Series, everything felt like I was in the Big League World Series or in the minor league playoffs. I was going out there attacking the zone. I was getting after the hitters; I wasn't giving up, and I was relentless. I wasn't scared. I tend to feel like I pitched a slight bit on the scared side this year. I don't know why."

Johnson was selected and signed by the St. Louis Cardinals on June 6, 2000, in the 34th round (13th pick, 1,013th overall) of the First-Year Player Draft. Chuck Fick of Newbury Park, the St. Louis Cardinals' West Coast scouting supervisor, signed him.

"I had history with him. I live in the area," Fick said. "He went to my local high school. I've known the kid since he was 10 years old. I knew him better than anyone else.

"I thought he could be at least a situational left-hander coming out of the bullpen, and I was right," Fick said. "Could he be a starter in the big leagues? Yeah, he could. I understand what they have him doing, but could he be a starter? There's no doubt in my mind."

Fick said Johnson wasn't ready to go from high school to professional baseball, and that's why he went to Moorpark College. After that season the Cardinals had up until one week before the draft to sign him. Fick said he strapped the catcher's gear on himself and had Johnson throw for him and another Cardinal scout.

"I still like to catch the guys," Fick said. "I signed him not because of his fastball, but because of his breaking ball."

For Johnson, playing on a St. Louis team that's managed by Tony La Russa is a big plus.

"Mr. La Russa is just a classact manager," Johnson said. "I haven't been around too many other managers, obviously, because I've only had parts of three years in the big leagues. Just from what I know, his whole coaching staff is fundamentally sound up and down.

"The amazing part about Tony is it's not just a one-man crew with him. He takes advice, and he's all ears to all options, and he's got his game plan."

Johnson said he made $335,000 for his efforts in 2006, and after the Cardinals won the World Series, his annual contract was bumped up to $400,000.

"I have one more year until I have arbitration and am eligible to get a bigger paycheck," he said.

Johnson is the son of Paul and Dee Johnson. His brother, Thomas, Newbury Park High Class of 2005, shares a home with Johnson in Missouri.

"My family has been a huge support," Johnson said. "I couldn't have done this without them. They've helped me out through the tough times."

His family will expand by one in February when a baby is due.

"I am very excited," Johnson said. "Tiffany (his girlfriend) and I are planning a long life together. We enjoy each other's company."

Johnson said he appreciates the support and the fan base that he's gained from being in the big leagues. "I have a lot of people calling from back home," he said. "I am one of the few players from the Newbury Park area to actually get to the big leagues and stay a season. It's a great honor to be able to accomplish that."

The other former Panthers are Robert Fick, 10 MLB seasons so far from 1998-2007, and David Lamb, parts of three seasons from 1999-2002.

"I hope," Johnson said, "there are many more seasons to come so I can do something special and give back to the community."

As he's pitched and made the strides necessary to make it to the majors, Johnson said his underlying thought has always been to never give up.

"When you have that passion and burning fire inside your gut and heart, just stick with it and things will work out for the best."