I still maintain that pitching wins championships. The Mets starting pitching fared very well until the few mistakes at the end of the games. I like the Mets starting four for many years to come

that s just the simple answer, however, championships are won up the middle:

 

pitching

catching

second

shortstop

centre field

 

the rest must compliment those parts but the rest will never win without strength up the middle

But Politi, those comeback hits didn't come up the middle. They were sprayed to the left and right center. The only play up the middle was the one that Murphy messed but even that in all fairness, his vision was blocked by the runner going. No one can go from first to third with any ball hit up the middle. And that starting pitching had the Mets with the lead in games 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. It is the relievers who lost games 1, 4 & 5. There was no one around who would have lifted Harvey last night after he had just struck out the side in the 8th. So he came back out and it cost him the game. Getting 2 more outs in games 1, six in 4 and 3 in 5 and Mets are the Champions. But that is not the case because every game needs at least 27 outs. All of that is passe now. I like what I saw of the Mets' starting pitchers. They don't look as intimidating as they are. They all have 3 to 4 different pitches and all of them are really good.

my friend "up the middle" refers to positions up the middle and the offensive and defensive strength they bring to the diamond and the calling of the

game. The other positions are mostly played by players who were not good enough to play up the middle but had the offensive numbers to play other positions 

 

That said Murphy is a poor defensive second baseman right now...

Mets weaknesses are in the infield and bullpen...they need to shore up those positions

I agree Ray. My point to Politi is that the Mets lost this series because of the relievers. Their inability to get a strike out when only a strike out would matter. Those hits were past the infielders not at them. Wright's error came in the 14th when the game should have been won in the 9th.