With a day off today for the Cubs I'd like to open the floor to the importance of leadership on a team. First, let's look at the two other "major" professional team sports, basketball and football (hockey, alas poor hockey, I knew it somewhat).

Teamwork is vital in basketball. We have all experienced being on a team with someone who thinks he is a "hotshot", where the other players on the team eventually lose interest while watching the hotshot continue to shoot on his own. This past NBA championship showcased two teams that played together on defense and had several offensive weapons. The leadership comes when it is crunch time and a guy like a Duncan, Jordan, Bird, or Shaq takes it upon himself to do whatever it takes.

Football is split, in that you have leaders for both offense and defense. The quarterback is the natural leader for the offense, since he starts each play and delivers the ball. If he does not show leadership, then the rest of the team that does not touch the ball (but is working in the trenches) tends to slack off. Of course, last year's Bears team is a prime example of things going bad.
A successful leader on the defensive side of the ball encourages his teammates to play their positions, cover their areas and not be the weak link. Typically a middle linebacker will lead, although a safety can take this role as well.

In baseball you also have two camps, the pitchers and the position players, joined together by the catcher. Teams typically do not make the playoffs unless they have a strong, steady catcher.
While a pitcher is involved on every pitch (every fourth day or so), position players for the majority of the time are either standing or sitting - they are not involved in the play. Every once in awhile players have to coordinate their efforts so that the ball is delivered precisely where it needs to be, as well as backing up a play in case the ball is not so precisely delivered.

So what is most effective to create a successful baseball team with regards to leadership: a guy who works hard off the field and sets an example on it (D Lee), an old pro who is an encourager (Neifi!), a manager who stands up for his players (the Toothpick Chomper), or a catcher who challenges the pitchers to overachieve and sacrifices himself behind the plate (Barrett?)? I don't think a pitcher can be a team leader since they are either only playing every fourth day or up for an occasional inning, and their batting is not counted on.
Because of lack of involvement, a leader on a baseball team is not so vital, particularly when you're dealing with a group of pampered millionaires. The only thing a manager can do, besides butt-patting or scolding, is to make out the line-up card.

Yet, I still feel that an effective leader on a baseball team can make a big difference. Do the Cubs have that, can they get one this late in the season (Nomar?), and would it make a difference?