In a decidedly tarps-on effort, The Sportists analyze the Cardinals season at roughly one-third of the way through. Starting pitching has defied expectations but the bottom of the lineup is underperforming. Jordan Walker is over performing his contract – to a stunning degree.

Around the league, the Cubs are faltering and Pete Crow-Armstrong has a momentary lapse of reason. Is it ever acceptable for a player to return smack talk when everyone carries a video camera? And, in a major league first, a pitcher has come back after a THIRD Tommy John surgery. Does he get to name the third procedure?

In the NFL, Rashee Rice finds himself in jail for 30 days and not rehabbing from his recent knee surgery. Can the Chiefs count on him going forward? Patrick Mahomes seems to be “way ahead of schedule” in his recovery. Did the NFL schedule  ...