Will anyone step up and lead Cubs?

There's an age-old debate in baseball about the need for momentum and whether it even exists in a game driven by starting pitching.

After all, a 12-1 victory means little if your next day's starter gets knocked out in the first inning.

But there is such a thing as momentum, and it's sometimes recognized by a different name: confidence.

There are other words, like character and leadership, and those things are what cause momentum and inspire confidence in teammates.

If you can look around your room and see athletes of great character who lead you onto a field with a belief you will win that day, that can carry a team.

Those players are hard to define but easy to spot, and in the Cubs' clubhouse this year there is not one big-name player who fits that description and commands that respect.

There are nine players making at least $8 million, and not one has shown he's capable of carrying the Cubs on and off the field.

Don't get me wrong, because the Cubs have some gamers, but they don't have a truly great player who's a truly great leader, someone who can put a team on his back and carry the club vocally, emotionally and physically.

So instead of the Cubs walking out onto the field each day and knowing they'll win because of a great starting pitcher or a great hitter, they wonder what will go wrong next.

There are just some years like that, and when you don't have that monster leader - a point to remember for 2010 - it's tough to remain positive in the face of so much negativity.

Seriously, for the love of Porfi Altamirano and all that's holy, when do the injuries stop for the Cubs?

They've had their entire team for two games this season, and any time they get close to putting all the pieces back on the field, more are lost.

When the Ryan Dempster injury occurred, it was tempting at that moment to wonder if this was simply going to be one of those years when nothing goes right.

Up to this point, that's exactly what it's been.

And, yet, despite it all, the Cubs hang in there, one decent series away from being back in first place in the division or the wild card.

However, it's exhausting mentally to see guys leaving via ambulance every day, without any sign of the cavalry, without an owner like Jerry Reinsdorf agreeing to add players, with the GM's hands tied.

It's not too late, so from inside the Cubs must find some leadership.

They need winning, team baseball, and someone with the juice needs to say it, or they can flush the season.

They need a player - not a manager or a coach - to grab control and disturb some spit.

Before it really is too late.

Pitch count

Do you sense that Jim Leyland is wearing out the Tigers' arms again?

It sure feels like it, and the American League is looking more wide open than it has in years.

Which makes the recent White Sox' gambles make even more sense.

Tiger tales

Five previous times, Tiger Woods has arrived at the PGA Championship without a major title.

He won at Medinah in 1999, and in 2007 he won at Southern Hills.

In the other three, he came up empty, but it's hard to believe when he tees off Thursday at Hazeltine that he won't make it 3-for-6.

Washed up?

During a year in which he has been questioned at every turn, criticized and scrutinized, told he was over the hill and heard suggestions he was finished after radical knee surgery, Woods finally has put an end to the talk that he'd never be the same.

At times he has been better, but now he needs a major to cap off what has been a tremendous comeback season.

He has won his last two tourneys, giving him 70 for his career and five for the year, with 22 victories in his last 40 starts since the 2006 British Open. Only 28 players have ever won 22 tournaments in a career, and Woods has done it in what amounts to two years.

Only two regular Tour players - Phil Mickelson (36) and Vijay Singh (34) - have as many as 22 wins.

He's looking to catch Jack Nicklaus (73) at No. 2 this year, and he can see Sam Snead on top at 82.

Yes, he has proved everyone wrong again, but that matters much less to him than the No. 18, which is Nicklaus' record for major victories.

And despite his insistence this week that he doesn't need No. 15 for the season to be a success, rest assured that Woods is dialed in and fired up for the PGA.

Expect him to win. You'd be insane to think anything else.

All that Jazz

Does it mean anything that in the Jazz team store, Utah has put the Carlos Boozer jerseys on sale for half off?

The quote

Mark Bloom, ex-owner of the Arena League's Nashville Kats: "When the NFL came in, a lot of the party atmosphere got sucked out."

Fine and dandy

Libertyville e-mailer Scott Phillips: "The real reason the PGA did not fine Tiger Woods for his recent criticism of an official? Tiger allegedly told the PGA, 'Good luck collecting even 20 cents from my accountants, P. Kane & Associates.' "

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Catcher accuses pitcher of throwing at him."

And finally -

Foxsports.com's Mark Kriegel: "At this juncture in Tony Romo's career, what he really needs is a nickname. How about, Mr. October?"

brozner@dailyherald.com