The St. Louis Cardinals gave fans a spark of hope after taking back-to-back series from the Cubs and Dodgers.

For a minute there, it looked like they might be pulling themselves into the thick of the playoff picture. But then came the series against the Rockies-a two-out-of-three stumble that felt all too familiar for a team caught between flashes of promise and frustrating inconsistency.

So the question hangs in the air like a slow-breaking curve: What’s missing? Why does momentum vanish as soon as it shows up?

Veteran play-by-play voice Chip Caray thinks he has at least part of the answer. In a recent interview, Caray pointed straight to the Cardinals’ clubhouse dynamic-or specifically, what it lacks.

It’s not talent, he says. It’s leadership.

The kind that steadies young players, sets the tone, and teaches the big-league level beyond just what’s in the scouting report.

Caray highlighted Nick Markakis as the kind of veteran the Cardinals are missing. During his time with the Braves, Markakis wasn’t a rah-rah guy, but teammates knew where he stood.

He went about his business the right way, held teammates accountable, and created an environment where young stars like Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman could thrive. According to Caray, that’s the sort of presence this Cardinals team needs to support its young core.

Now, in theory, St. Louis already checked that leadership box.

Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt were brought in, in part, to be the culture-changers. On paper, they’re the ultimate lead-by-example veterans-hard-working, talented, respected across the league.

But as Caray pointed out, neither one is particularly vocal in the clubhouse. They’re more likely to lead with actions than with speeches-and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it doesn’t always fill the void when the locker room needs someone to jolt the young guys out of a funk.

To his credit, Arenado seemed to sense that himself. He reportedly pushed for the team to bring in some edge-guys who wouldn’t just lead quietly, but who could hold others accountable.

The Cardinals responded with the additions of Brandon Crawford and Matt Carpenter, two veterans and close friends of Arenado’s who’ve seen it all in the majors. They were supposed to be the boots-on-the-ground leadership crew.

But here we are. That veteran injection didn’t stick the landing.

Of course, leadership on a roster isn’t something you can just manufacture with a midseason signing, especially if those players aren’t contributing consistently on the field. That’s part of what’s complicated the situation for Arenado, who’s had one of the toughest seasons of his career. Between underperformance and time spent on the injured list, it’s been a slog-and it’s hard to lead loudly when your bat is quiet and your body won’t cooperate.

Then there’s Willson Contreras. Now here’s a guy bringing that emotional energy the Cardinals need.

He’s not catching every day, but his presence still echoes. Contreras plays with fire, speaks his mind, backs his teammates, and hits the ball hard.

He’s become a rare bright spot in a season full of ups and downs, and he’s the kind of tone-setter who can influence a young team culture.

Masyn Winn and Victor Scott II-both brimming with potential and athleticism-can learn a lot from watching how Contreras carries himself. These are players who could become faces of the franchise in the years to come, and their development won’t be defined by numbers alone. It’ll be shaped by the voices around them in the dugout and what kind of expectations are set inside that clubhouse.

There’s also Brendan Donovan, who’s carved out a versatile, steady presence. Donovan may not be the first name you throw out when discussing team leaders, but he’s part of that veteran layer that’s supposed to help bridge the experience gap between the young prospects and the demands of Major League Baseball.

So the Cardinals are in an interesting spot. They’ve got some good clay-talent, veterans, promise-but the mold is still taking shape.

The question, really, is whether this current group can evolve into the kind of leadership core every contending team needs. Because adding aging vets for the sake of “veteran presence” doesn’t automatically fix chemistry.

You can’t force mentorship. And a locker room doesn’t change just because someone with a ring walks through the door.

Right now, the pieces are there. The personalities exist. It’s about finding a rhythm within the chaos of a long season-where leadership isn’t prescribed, but earned and embraced.

If the Cardinals are going to stop this cycle of momentum followed by collapse, it won’t come solely from external additions. It’s going to have to come from within.

From players like Contreras stepping up. From young stars like Winn and Scott II taking that next step.

From Arenado, if healthy, rediscovering his voice along with his swing.

There’s no single fix. But there’s still a foundation. And that counts for a lot more than one would-be savior veteran sitting on the bench.