Papelbon: Phillies lacked leadership

Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon didn't mince words on Friday when he discussed the team's mediocre 2012 season with reporters.

After finishing 2011 with 102 wins, the Phillies stumbled to an 81-81 record and missed the postseason. Papelbon feels that a lack of leadership was a major reason why the team underachieved.

Via ESPN

"It was an all-around leadership void from A to Z," Papelbon said. "From being a vocal leader to being an off-the-field leader to being an on-the-field leader to everything. You can't just point your finger at what type of leadership was missing. It was the whole part of the equation. Our team identity is formed by that leadership."

In his first season in Philadelphia (after seven seasons in Boston), Papelbon had a 5-6 record with 38 saves, a 2.44 ERA and 92 strikeouts.