The rotation: Nothing is more important to a team"s success on the diamond.

Only the Yankees, Braves and Marlins have won World Series titles in the last six years. Each of those clubs had one of the strongest pitching staffs in the league.

For Michigan baseball to succeed in 2001, its pitchers will have to step up and carry the team on their shoulders.

No. 1 Bobby Korecky

This junior right-hander is the strongest cog in the Wolverines" wheel. A true workhorse, Korecky has pitched four-straight complete games for Michigan. Each week Korecky will stand against the best the Big Ten has to offer.

"He is a competitor with great speed and three effective pitches," Michigan pitching coach Steve Foster said.

No. 2 Nick Alexander

One of the Wolverines" tri-captains this year, Alexander brings veteran leadership to the staff. The lefty doesn"t have the strongest velocity on the team, but relies on location and experience to get batters out.

"He"s a real gamer," Foster said. "He has had two good starts and two average ones so far this year."

The senior has earned himself a permanent spot leading off Saturday doubleheaders for Michigan.

"The top two spots are as strong as you"ll see in the Big Ten," Foster said.

No. 3 Jim Brauer

Last year"s Mr. Baseball in Indiana, Brauer brings a young vibrant energy to the staff.

"For a freshman to be where he is right now, that"s impressive. You can"t coach that," Foster said.

Brauer relies heavily on a slider which Foster calls his "bread-and-butter" pitch.

No. 4 Tim Leveque

A sophomore right-hander from Northridge Calif., Leveque opened the year with 17.1-straight scoreless innings. That was good enough to secure him a spot in the Big Ten rotation at least for right now.

"The No. 3 and 4 spots could vary some from week to week," Foster said. "But these two have done well and they deserve to pitch."

Long Relief: Vince Pistilli, Rich Hill, Kirk Taylor and Bobby Wood

Hill and Taylor are both tall lefties, but they have very different pitching patterns. Hill, like the senior Pistilli and junior Wood, is a power pitcher.

"They all have good velocity," Foster said. "They"re in the high 80s to low 90s."

Taylor, on the other hand, really needs to use the whole plate to make up for a less than amazing fastball.

"He relies on changing speed and a very strong changeup," Foster said.

All four could see extended action in relief during Big Ten games along with spot starting during the week.

Closer Jeff Trzos

At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Trzos is an impressive physical specimen. But the key for him as the closer will be winning the mental battles late in ball games.

"Jeff"s ERA is high, (8.31 heading into this weekend) but he"s been throwing the ball great," Foster said.

In his last outing, Trzos struck out the side to secure his second save of the season.

Staff

"We have a combination of leadership and young competitive guys it"s a healthy mixture," Foster said. "We have been in the top four in (Big Ten) pitching all season, and we"re hoping to be No. 1.

"What we are really looking for is consistency."