Corcoran brothers have strong bond

SEATTLE -- Back in 2006, Mariners reliever Roy Corcoran was starting to get tired of the trend his career was taking with the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals organization.

He came up to the big club in 2003, 2004 and 2006, only to appear in five, five and six games, respectively.

Not exactly an extended tryout.

"Man, I'm telling you ... and I appreciate those guys giving me the opportunity that they did, I just wish it was for a longer period of time," he said. "That last time it happened, it got to me a little ... that I didn't stay up there longer and they didn't pitch me more. And I kind of felt like I got cheated a little bit, I should have pitched more, been there a little longer."

It was on those nights, like many in Corcoran's professional career, that he dialed up big brother Tim -- then a starting pitcher with the Tampa Bay Rays.

"We call each other on good days, bad days, and we talk about it. One of us is going to have something good to say, and we're not going to church anything up," Roy said. "He tells me you gotta do this ... you didn't do this, and I tell him the same thing. It's just good to have somebody that close to me."

Those talks and Corcoran's positive outlook -- which is evident in his ever-present smile -- have led him to Seattle and his first extended season in the Major Leagues. He weathered an early-season demotion to Triple-A Tacoma and returned in mid-June to become a big part of a Seattle bullpen that's been very effective at times this season.

"Certainly we wouldn't have known he was going to get this much [time]," manager Jim Riggleman said of Corcoran's season. "He's done a heck of a job. He's just getting better all along really."

The right-hander currently has a 4.00 ERA this season and has made 31 appearances -- nearly double the career total he had coming into this season -- despite the time he spent in Tacoma. With a low-90s fastball that has some downward movement, Corcoran must be precise with his pitches in order to be effective.

"His velocity is pretty good and he keeps the ball down, probably keeps the ball down as good as anybody we have, right there along with [Sean] Green," Riggleman said. "He's getting some sink on his fastball, gets some ground balls."

Corcoran also stands out in the clubhouse with his big grin, not to mention a Southern drawl that's audible from about the entrance to Safeco Field.

"He's just a guy that everybody likes being around. He's funny, he has good one-liners," said Mark Lowe, who added that he would describe his bullpen mate as a "redneck" or "country boy."

"He's a guy that sometimes we give a hard time to because he doesn't seem to take it very well, but he does it all in good fun and just laughs along with it -- great teammate."

But under the joking is a competitive edge that was born in Baton Rouge, La., and has made it through numerous Minor League stints and big league struggles.

That competitiveness started in the Corcoran backyard, where Roy and Tim constantly played baseball with a tennis ball against each other -- or as they called it, "The Game." Posing as various Major Leaguers, the brothers would battle each other for hours.

Roy said the two were and still are best friends, but that didn't keep them from some natural sibling sparring on occasion. Among the many incidents was an important playoff game in high school. Tim, the upperclassman, was on the mound, while Roy was catching behind the plate.

As the game drew near its end with their team leading 1-0, Roy went out to the mound for a chat with a couple runners on base.

"I was walking out to the mound. He [said], 'Get back behind the plate ... get back behind the plate.' And I said, 'I want you to throw this, and stay away from this.'

"He goes, 'I'm going to throw my ... fastball, you get ... behind the plate.' And the guy hits a three-run homer, next pitch. I mean we almost got into it a couple times on the field -- it gets bad. It got bad. But we always made up."

Despite Roy going undrafted and Tim being selected in the 44th round, both have made it to the Major Leagues. Tim was in the Minor Leagues after just a year of junior college and spent eight years down there before debuting with Tampa Bay in 2005.

Roy went to community college -- where he began to seriously focus on pitching for the first time -- and played at Southeastern Conference powerhouse LSU for a year before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Expos in 2001. His career path went a bit faster as he made his debut in 2003.

"As far as odds, my goodness, what are the chances?" he said about the family success. "But we're very fortunate, and it's just ... it's wonderful the way it worked out."

Roy said he speaks for Tim as well by saying the incredible support from their family gave them the opportunity to reach such heights. And they've had each other along the way, too. While Roy had Tim for a talking buddy during his struggles to stay in the Major Leagues, his older brother also provided motivation since he was in the middle of an extended stay with the Rays.

Now the roles are reversed this year. Tim is with a Marlins Double-A affiliate, while Roy is enjoying the most success and longevity of his Major League career.

"It's been a kinda rough year for my brother. He's been hurt a little bit. He'll get back on track. He's a strong individual and he'll be fine," Roy said.

It's been a rough year for Corcoran's Mariners as well. But regardless of the outcomes, they will meet back home in Louisiana this summer as Roy prepares to get married, and the two of them work out to get ready for the 2009 season.

Though their careers are at different points right now, Roy has a hope that they might get a chance to play on the same team in the future. And as someone who has had his own struggles to stay at the game's top level, he's knows the long-term benefits of perseverance.

"You have to believe that things are going to get better. I'm too young to think negatively about it, and I just kept a positive attitude the whole time," he said. "And it's paid off so far, and hopefully I even say this when I'm 35."