There may not be an "eye" in team, but there sure must be an "el" in there somewhere.
Yesterday's loss to Toronto unfolded collectively in the bottom of the eighth inning. Cliff Lee was on the mound, pitching with a three run lead. With Juan Bautista on first via a walk, Edwin Encarnacion hit a line drive single to left. John Mayberry didn't exactly hustle to pick up the ball and when he reached it he threw to the wrong bag. Indeed, he didn't throw to any official bag, hitting cutoff man Jimmy Rollins who was in short left field behind short stop. Rollins took the ball and threw wildly to second where he had Encarnacion dead to rights. The ball skipped all the way to foul territory and both runners scored. Suddenly, a three run lead was down to one. A moment later it was a tie game. Once again, Cliff Lee failed to hold a lead or win a game, the Phils' once-vaunted defense collapsed and the game was eventually lost in extra innings.
Lee did not look sharp at all yesterday. He failed to get his curve over and the Blue Jays' batters sat on his fastball. Lee surrendered twelve hits in the game and remains winless with the All Star break looming in a few weeks. Chad Qualls and Joe Savery were lousy again. Qualls would have been released a long time ago were it not for the desperation of his employers. Oh, and one of the best (and most expensive) closers in the game just sits and watches.
Lack of timely hitting. Poor or lackadaisical defense. Shaky starting pitching and a bullpen that implodes most of the time. Add it up and you've got a last place team.
