When do Cardinal fans have to stop saying “it’s still early” before being excited about the 2026 team? The Sportists consider this as well as the amazing start of JJ Wetherholt. Also, there’s a “catching glut” that could work to their advantage later in the season, along with the return of Lars Nootbaar – which could be less than a month away.

Paul Skenes and Jacob Misiorowski are confounding MLB hitters and the Cubs are piling up wins, but not distance between themselves and Central Division competitors. We’re now living in a world of 103 mph fastballs which could explain why batting averages are so low.

An unsettling week for Mizzou as a superstar running back is involved in a shooting incident and there are far more questions than answers. In more positive Mizzou news, the Tigers may be about to play the Saint Louis University Billikens on the hardwood for the first time since 2001. Things get downright strange between SEC rivals and the 24-team football playoff is gaining a disturbing amount of momentum.

The NFL gives the Chiefs some major prime-time slots early in the season and is it bad when an NFL team tells a quarterback to forget everything from college and start over? All of this plus two big wins for St. Louis CITY, a surprise coaching hire at Missouri State and your weekly dose of World Cup madness in this week’s episode of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast.

The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

The Cardinals continue to roll and are starting to get some national attention. Wetherholt and Walker, specifically, are getting some callouts for their noteworthy starts to 2026. How long before other teams begin to call for players that were thought to be trade chips at the start of the season?

Around the league, the injury bug hits Detroit and the Cubs are winning in an annoying fashion (if you’re a Cardinal fan). The “window” may be closing for the Astros – one of the first MLB teams to “tank” early in the last decade.

The Sportists remember Ted Turner and realize they could fill an entire pod with his accomplishments and contributions. They also remember John Sterling and his unforgettable calls behind the mic.

Patrick Mahomes may influence the NFL schedule by not playing. And yet another Kentucky Derby winner is skipping the Preakness. The Blues have two top-15 picks in the upcoming NHL draft … or do they?

College coaches have lots of ideas about the game and Nick Saban has a controversial take – a salary cap? The Brendan Sorsby gambling saga continues to unwind with an unexpected plot twist coming in to play.

The LIV tour has really good lawyers, the PGA Championship approaches and we may have reached the peak of 70s nostalgia as a fictional radio station comes to life. All of this and more in an action-packed edition of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast.

The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

Can bad football save your life? The Sportists may have an instance. Surprisingly good baseball is being played by the St. Louis Cardinals as they close out April with a flourish. The catchers are providing unexpected offense, and this may be a season to not jump to conclusions on player performance.

Around the league, managers are getting axed early and ABS continues to have unintended consequences. And the balance of power may have shifted to the National League after years of American League dominance.

The NFL Draft is in the books and the Chiefs seemed to address their glaring needs – perhaps by keeping certain individuals out of the draft room. A huge crowd in Pittsburgh didn’t hear Diego Pavia’s name called. Will his chance come in Baltimore or Birmingham?

It’s Kentucky Derby weekend – should you drop 10 on Commandment? It’ll be a pleasant day in Louisville, but will you be wearing a fascinator? LIV may die in Louisiana as the tour is officially on life support.

The Blues have major decisions in the offseason regarding key players. Which one-time cornerstone players will be back? And is one promising forward due a major extension?

Sports betting takes a dark turn for a highly-sought-after college quarterback. Brendan Sorsby’s “leave of absence” could unfortunately be an extended one. And is five years of eligibility the new four with no redshirts? Momentum seems headed in that direction.

All of this plus a Cardinal legend’s calls to the jockey room at the Derby (heh, heh, heh) Huey P. Long, The St. Louis Sun and a return to the mud hut on this week’s episode of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast.

The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.