The middle is never closed especially when pitchers and middle men jump around so much. As hitters we want to hit holes and as defenders we want to close those holes so its a dance that pitchers win and lose. The problems come when guys talk sh*t on both ends. If a pitcher snaps you off, shut up and go sit down. If you blow a pitcher up, shut up and keep running. We are using juiced balls and bats hitting at a guy 50 feet away so lets stop gorilla fisting our chest because a guy missed it.