31.   Or maybe it could have been if the middle relief had given the bats a swinging chance coming down the stretch.

32.   Pushing Hasegawa and Petkovsek to the end of games means the means the middle relief could suffer.

33.   Robert Person, a middle relief candidate, was supposed to follow, but he stepped in a hole during running drills Thursday and will not make the trip.

34.   Ricardo Jordan has been a major disappointment in middle relief, and even Greg McMichael and John Franco have struggled in recent weeks.

35.   Ramiro Mendoza, Dwight Gooden and Allen Watson will be used in middle relief, to get to Stanton late in the seventh inning, and for the eighth.

36.   Several weeks ago, it seemed sure that Orlando Hernandez would be moved to middle relief.

37.   The Mets intend to use Mercado in middle relief, and they continue to pursue left-handed relievers who will pitch in the seventh and eighth innings.

38.   The key spots that need attention, according to Colangelo, are shortstop and right field, and middle relief.

39.   The middle relief remains solid.

40.   The Mets intend to use Hudek in middle relief.