61.   That was as a middle reliever.

62.   The arrival of Nitkowski fills the void for a lefthanded middle reliever left by Ron Villone, who was not pursued this winter and became a free agent.

63.   The Astros also have inquired about free-agent middle reliever David Weathers.

64.   The bullpen will have a fresh look with middle reliever Greg McMichael the biggest name acquired among four new pitchers.

65.   The California Angels put to rest the controversy surrounding the role of closer on Monday, trading Lee Smith to the Cincinnati Reds for middle reliever Chuck McElroy.

66.   The Diamondbacks went through middle relievers all season, trying to find the right combination.

67.   The Dodgers sent Prokopec, one of their few tradeable commodities, to Toronto for middle reliever Paul Quantrill and minor-league shortstop Cesar Izturis.

68.   The Expos also signed middle reliever Gil Heredia to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

69.   The Diamondbacks made their first trade of the spring on Sunday, sending right-handed middle relievers Todd Erdos and Marty Janzen to the Yankees for utility man Andy Fox.

70.   The following spring, Pat Dobson, then the Baltimore pitching coach, worked with Rhodes on maintaining his balance, and Rhodes became a star middle reliever.