51.   Jeff Nelson will not be too thrilled if Irabu becomes the setup man.

52.   Julian Tavarez, the setup man last year and the major league leader in appearances, is a candidate for the fifth starting spot.

53.   Last season he was used mainly as a setup man for closer Mike Henneman.

54.   Lights-out setup man Mariano Rivera followed Bob Wickman as the two shut down the Sox for three innings.

55.   Manager Kevin Kennedy can even see him as a setup man, although down deep he thinks it would be a waste of rare talent.

56.   McDowell will be the primary setup man, because he is a veteran who has done it before.

57.   Meanwhile, Hunsicker said there has been no progress regarding contract talks with closer Billy Wagner and free-agent setup man Doug Brocail.

58.   Meanwhile, the Phillies, who signed Jose Mesa as a setup man last week, still have hopes of landing John Franco as their closer.

59.   Mel Rojas, the setup man, pitched a dominating eighth inning for the Mets.

60.   Mesa had a three-year offer from his last team, the San Francisco Giants, but that was to be a setup man.