Baseball: Q-and-A with Tyson Corley, ThunderBolts pitcher

ThunderBolts pitcher Tyson Corley. | John Smierciak~For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: August 17, 2012 2:12AM

Corley signed with the ThunderBolts on April 24 and is in his first year with the team. He is 4-6 with a 3.30 ERA and eight saves. A 13th-round draft pick of the White Sox in 2006, he spent six seasons in that organization, reaching Triple-A Charlotte. Corley is a native of Wichita, Kan., and a product of the University of Kansas.

You started the season as the team?s closer, then moved into the starting rotation. What was that transition like for you?

It took a little bit to get used to, going from throwing 10 to 15 pitches every day or every other day to throwing 100 pitches once a week. It was the coaches? decision and what they thought would be best for the team, and I love starting. You control a lot more of your own game. It?s been fun.

Your numbers weren?t great early and it took a while (until July 16) to get your first win. Now you have four wins in less than a month. How were you able to keep your confidence up?

You?re fighting for your job every day and you?re playing baseball, so it?s fun. Our team is good so I knew the wins were going to happen. I just had to pitch well and we were going to score and play good defense. Now it?s showing.

What?s been the biggest key to your success of late?

Just throwing strikes. You?ve got to get ahead of guys and it took me a while to get used to the strike zone in (the Frontier League). It?s a little different than affiliated ball.

Do you have any superstitions?

I used to have a lot more. Right now, my only one is the blue jerseys. I try to have us wear blue jerseys every time I pitch. We hardly ever wear them, so that will be my thing when I pitch because I like them.

What?s your favorite baseball movie?

?Bull Durham.? It?s a solid flick. Growing up, I loved ?Angels in the Outfield.? I recently watched it and it?s not as good now as an adult.

What?s on your iPod?

I listen to a little bit of everything, from Elton John to screamy music. I like heavy rock. I really like A Day to Remember.

Do you have an entrance song?

Yeah, but I changed it. As a closer it was Marilyn Manson?s ?Sweet Dreams.? As a starter, it?s ?The Safety Dance? (by Men Without Hats) You can?t really be intimidating in the first inning.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I?d love to golf in Ireland. I?m Irish, so I?d like to take my wife and visit the old country.

Are you a big golfer?

I try to be. As a pitcher, it?s one of your jobs. On a day you?re not pitching, you have to go golf. It?s one of the rules of baseball.

Which one of your teammates should have his own reality show?

Dusty (pitcher Dustin Williams). He is an interesting person. I think everyone can learn a little bit from Dusty, either good or bad.

I?ve gotten your name as an answer to that question before. What do you think about that?

Yeah, I?m a pretty interesting person, too. There?s never a dull day around here.

As told to Steve Millar

Source: http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/sports/14530697-419/baseball-q-and-a-with-tyson-corley-thunderbolts-pitcher.html

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