StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the roster construction of the Twins put them in a better spot to break their 18-game losing streak than in past seasons, while specific moves -- the Pablo Lopez trade and Royce Lewis draft pick -- led directly to their win Tuesday. It all adds up to a very good day for Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey. 7:00: An update on Diamond Sports and negotiations to keep teams like the Wild and Wolves on Bally Sports. 11:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson sets up a daunting task at hand on Saturday against Michigan. 26:00: Aaron Rodgers is doing his own research again.

Introduction: The Twins' 18-game postseason losing streak, the longest in North American history, is now a thing of the past. After a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday in Game 1 of the Wild Card series, the Twins are in the driver's seat in a series for a change. Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III, who witnessed all 18 losses, breaks it down with host Michael Rand -- everything from the Royce Lewis home runs to the big defensive plays to big pitching moments. 17:00: Chris Hanel, who made a nearly two-hour documentary about the astronomical odds of the losing streak, joins Rand after the victory. He cried tears of joy Tuesday, and now Hanel might finally be able to eat something. His catharsis is similar to that of other Twins fans.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand welcomes in Andrew Krammer from the Star Tribune to dissect film from the Vikings' first win of the season on Sunday. They improved to 1-3, but with questions still aplenty and Kansas City next on the schedule, did they really solve any of their problems on defense and offense? 18:00: Rand and Keith Richotte explore the idea of whether the Vikings are going to be bad enough to satisfy what should be their biggest mission this season: Gaining roster clarity and a top draft pick. 30:00: A tribute to former colleague Chris Snow, who died recently of complications from ALS at age 42.

Introduction: In this special edition Twins playoff preview of Daily Delivery, host Michael Rand starts out with his three keys to the Wild Card series starting Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Among them: The health of Royce Lewis. 7:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Bobby Nightengale gives his breakdown of the projected roster and dissects how the Twins might match up against Toronto, a team that ultimately is very similar to the Twins. Expect good pitching, power and plenty of strikeouts. 22:00: Twins fan Chris Hanel joins Rand to talk more about his excellent documentary on the Twins' 18-game losing streak. Reliving the pain of that streak gives way to optimism, even if that seems impossible. 40:00: Final thoughts and a rundown of the special episodes ahead.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included a bit of a surprise: The Twins will face the Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card round starting Tuesday. It's a winnable three-game matchup at Target Field, with the Twins starting out as slight favorites. But it will probably come down to pitching and the health of Royce Lewis. Reusse was not impressed with the QB play on either side of the ball Sunday when the Vikings managed their first win of the season, 21-13, over Carolina. Kirk Cousins threw a terrible pick-six, then offered a garbled explanation for it, but the Vikings harassed rookie Bryce Young enough to escape with the victory. Plus a Gophers win that Reusse missed largely because of a 60-year reunion.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand spent part of Thursday at Timberwolves media day, where he was struck by several things: President Tim Connelly saying they need to win a playoff series this year, head coach Chris Finch saying the team's best identity will be built around defense and toughness, Anthony Edwards praising coaches who get the most out of him and Karl-Anthony Towns seeming rather subdued. Plus, the Wolves are definitely paying close attention to what happens with Diamond Sports, creditors and carriers. To that end, the New York Post reported Thursday that Diamond has reached a tentative one-year agreement with Comcast and DirecTV for carriage rights to show games on Bally channels. But NBA and NHL teams might have to take up to a 20% pay cut on their current deals. 11:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand to talk about the season ahead. With regular-season games starting in less than two weeks, what are some of the biggest training camp story lines? 32:00: The Twins are locked into the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, while the Lions are showing they are for real.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand had a different sort of Twins experience on Wednesday as he and his family attended a game. It was the first time his 3-year-old had been to a Twins game, and the first one his 6-year-old could remember. He watched how they and his 9-year-old interacted with the sights and sounds, gaining a different appreciation for the nine-inning process. It definitely helped that the Twins won -- and they got some good Royce Lewis injury news on the same day. 9:00: Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings are trying to turn the page after a tough week. 12:00: Can the Gophers football team do the same? Star Tribune beat writer Randy Johnson dissects where they are at after last week's blown lead at Northwestern, while Rand takes note of an interesting P.J. Fleck commentary on Name, Image and Likeness. 29:00: Damian Lillard to the ... Bucks?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand answered a few questions/rants from listeners, starting with one about the Twins' likely starting pitching plans in the Wild Card series. Should the Twins be starting Pablo Lopez or Sonny Gray in Game 1? And what about Joe Ryan vs. Kenta Maeda in Game 3? Rand gets into the rationale. 10:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about that team, which started practice this week in preparation for Year Three under Ben Johnson. It's a big season with a better roster, but improvement is a must. 30:00: Would Kirk Cousins really agree to be traded? And a listener scolds Rand for not including a great game from Vikings history on a recent episode.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes the implications of the week ahead for Bally Sports and parent company Diamond Sports. Negotiations with Comcast could shape the future of regional sports, while another deadline for restructuring debt also looms. All of it will impact how you watch the Wild and Wolves this season. 9:00: Andrew Krammer helps Rand understand why the Vikings have struggled in the red zone this season and why they blitz so much. 27:00: The expression of poetry. 43:00: The Twins would play the Astros if the season ended today.

Introduction: It was not a great weekend for Minnesota football fans, but it was a fantastic Monday for content, as host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse quickly concluded while breaking down Saturday's Gophers loss and Sunday's Vikings loss. They started with the Vikings, whose reality is calcifying around them after a 28-24 loss to the Chargers dropped them to 0-3. The Vikings are good enough to be in game, but they haven't been good enough to finish them. More mistakes doomed them, including goal-line blunders and communication breakdowns. The Gophers, meanwhile, somehow lost a 31-10 lead to a terrible Northwestern team and fell 37-34 in overtime. This was certainly the worse of the two weekend losses. How bad? Time will tell. And oh, by the way, the Twins clinched the AL Central. Maybe they can provide an October jolt to take our minds off football.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand asked Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins this week about the team's charmed existence in 2022 compared to their diminished fortune so far in 2023. Cousins' answer was illuminating, but it also sent Rand down a path of examining just how outrageous Minnesota's fortune was a year ago. 8:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a look at the Twins and trying to answer just how they went from a sub-.500 group at the break to the verge of a breezy AL Central title. Plus Neal weighs in on the impact of Royce Lewis while getting into the Vikings and his disastrous Bears. 32:00: The Vikings did have some offensive line depth, but they traded it away. And how did Byron Buxton look last night?

Introduction: In a jam-packed show, host Michael Rand starts out looking at the Vikings and Minnesota United, both of whom appear to be in desperation mode. The Vikings have made two roster moves this week -- signing guard Dalton Risner and trading for running back Cam Akers -- in hopes of jump-starting their running game and reversing their 0-2 start. To Rand, it's the sign that the plan was not good at the start. The Loons, meanwhile, gave up three late goals in a 4-3 loss to Los Angeles to tumble out of playoff position. 13:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand to discuss the Gophers football team, which needs more offensive consistency than it has shown so far. An opportunity exists this weekend to gain a win and confidence against Northwestern, but not without improvement. 28:00: The Lynx season is over, but the Wild season is just starting. Welcome to late September.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand gets into the Royce Lewis injury scare from Tuesday and the potential impact on the Twins as they move closer to clinching a playoff berth. Lewis has been their best player down the stretch of the season, and they clearly need to hope that his hamstring tightness doesn't linger into the postseason. Plus a strong start from Kenta Maeda puts him firmly into the mix to start a potential Game 3 in the playoffs. Speaking of Game 3, Rand welcomes in Star Tribune writer Kent Youngblood in advance of the deciding game between the Lynx and Connecticut on Wednesday at Target Center. A season that started 0-6 and turned sour again late in the regular season has given way to a one-game opportunity. And speaking of overcoming bad starts, can the Vikings dig out of this 0-2 hole? And what would happen if they fall to 0-3 Sunday?

On a jam-packed Tuesday show, host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse talk about their college football excursions over the weekend -- including Reusse's visit to Harvard to see the Crimson face St. Thomas. Reusse also gives his perspective on Minnesota hockey legend Henry Boucha, who died at age 72. The Vikings finally upgraded their offensive line it seems with a reported deal for guard Dalton Risner, but now that they are 0-2 will it matter? They are home underdogs to the Chargers on Sunday, but even a loss in that game won't be enough for them to think about unloading some of their core players like Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter, Reusse says. Plus some bad injury news for the Twins and perhaps a new segment idea?

Host Michael Rand made a trip to North Carolina, where he and friends visited longtime podcast contributor Keith and they all took in Saturday's 31-13 Gophers loss to the Tar Heels. A stark difference in quarterback play underscored where the two programs are, and served as a reminder that P.J. Fleck's team still has a lot to prove this season. Plus the whole crew shares perspectives on the highs and lows from the weekend, while a 7-year-old provides perhaps the best clarity on Justin Jefferson, Kirk Cousins and the Vikings' quarterback situation. Program note: Rand and Patrick Reusse will do their regular show on Tuesday this week when they both return to Minneapolis after weekends of travel.

Introduction: There are a lot of ways to beat the 2023 Vikings, as we have seen already in just two games, but the best way for now might be to let them beat themselves. Seven turnovers, including six lost fumbles -- four of them in Thursday's not-that-close 34-28 loss to the Eagles -- have doomed them in an 0-2 start. Beyond turnovers, though, there are plenty of other deficiencies. Most notably, a huge talent and execution gap on the offensive and defensive lines that was once again exposed in Philadelphia. 11:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for a look at some big decisions looming in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Twins lead the AL Central by eight games with 15 to play and should be able to cruise to the finish line. That will give them an extended look at different players in different roles as they try to find their best 26 for October. 35:00: Will the Twins take some heat off the Vikings?

Introduction: Two things are true of "tanking," the idea of putting at least some intentionality into losing in order to obtain a high draft pick the following year: It is nearly impossible to sell to those actually playing the games, since their competitiveness, pride and livelihood is at stake; but it had proved to deliver the type of game-changing talent to turn franchises around. Host Michael Rand notes this dichotomy in the context of several Minnesota teams and wonders if too many of them are stuck in the middle. 11:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand with thoughts on the brutal first weekend for the Vikings, which not only included a loss but a failure to sign Justin Jefferson to an extension. As they look ahead to Thursday's Vikings game against the Eagles, the outlook is grim -- but also reversible if they can muster a prime time win. 36:00: A word from Aaron Rodgers.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand wonders how the frustration expressed in two losses Sunday -- one by the Vikings, one by the Lynx -- will carry over into big moments this week. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins was visibly upset after an interception keyed a 20-17 loss to Tampa Bay. How does that play into a tough game Thursday at Philadelphia? Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve ripped her team after a loss to Indiana gave Minnesota a lower playoff seed and tougher matchup Wednesday against Indiana. You'll hear from Reeve, Cousins and Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips. 14:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson helps set up Saturday's big game at North Carolina against star quarterback Drake Maye. 27:00: The Twins finally beat the Rays, showing in the process that they could have what it takes to be a good playoff team this season.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched Aaron Rodgers get hurt on his first series as a Jets QB, a likely Achilles injury that could keep him out for a long time, and couldn't help but think of the emotional letdown after the offseason drama. Imagine, for example, if Brett Favre had been injured in his first series as QB for the Vikings in 2009? 8:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of what went wrong for the Vikings on Sunday. The interior of the offensive line is still a question mark in any given game, and while the defense was improved in some areas Tampa Bay made some key adjustments. 31:00: Vikings poetry is back, baby. 44:00: Pablo Lopez or Sonny Gray in Game 1 of a playoff series?

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which started with a clunker from the Vikings in their opener. They turned the ball over three times and let Tampa Bay hang around before ultimately losing 20-17 at U.S. Bank Stadium. In conjunction with other weekend outcomes, including the lack of a Justin Jefferson extension and impressive wins for the Lions and Packers, not much could have gone worse. Reusse and Rand also discuss the dominance of Pablo Lopez and how the Twins might stack up in the playoffs as they try to break their 18-game postseason losing streak. And the Lynx stumbled into the playoffs with a bad loss Sunday that impacted their seed, leading coach Cheryl Reeve to rip them after the game.

Introduction; Host Michael Rand watched the Lions rally to beat Kansas City 21-20 and had an uh-oh moment. That was supposed to be a banked loss for Detroit. Now everyone else in the NFC North is chasing the Lions this weekend. It puts even more pressure on the Vikings to win their soft opener against Tampa Bay, even as this roster looks to have a lot of holes. 7:00: Rand and Star Tribune writer/editor Jeff Day join forces again for Part II of their Vikings series -- this time on the worst moments in franchise history. A lot of the moments were no-brainers. But what order? That was a big question. Hopefully this is more cathartic than painful. 43:00: Things Rand wants to see from four teams this weekend.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand says that the Twins did everything fans could have really asked for on their recent 13-game stretch against Texas and Cleveland. Even after losing Wednesday to the Guardians, the Twins went 8-5 during that span and increased their AL Central led from five to six games. With just 22 to play, they are in great shape. 6:00: Rand and Star Tribune writer/editor Jeff Day take turns drafting the 10 greatest moments in Vikings history. What made the cut? What did they miss? And are you scared of Friday's show, when they will draft the 10 worst moments in Vikings history? 47:00: One current Viking who is rising quickly.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand provides perspective on the latest sports on TV battle, which has left nearly 15 million subscribers to Charter/Spectrum cable without ESPN and other Disney-owned channels just as sports ramp back up again. This squabble has a different feel to it, and Rand wonders if we will look back on this as a turning point. 10:00: Rand welcomes in four members of the Gophers baseball team for a discussion of the upcoming season, pace of play rules in college baseball and the impact of the transfer portal in college sports. The players joined Rand out at the State Fair on Monday. 31:00: A big statement from the Twins, who are playing as consistently well as they have all season and now lead the AL Central by seven games.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the long weekend in sports, which included a 20-run outburst by the Twins on Monday. Royce Lewis hit his third grand slam in an eight-game span, pushing the division lead to six games. The Twins have been hitting well lately, and they've been doing it without Byron Buxton. He had another injury setback, and Reusse is concerned about Buxton's long-term future. Reusse and Rand also get into the Vikings' season, with a prediction from Patrick that the Vikings will repeat as NFC North champions thanks in large part to the mediocrity of the rest of the teams. But they won't benefit from the "Football Gods" to the same degree as last season. Has that fortune found P.J. Fleck's Gophers instead?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand couldn't believe his eyes, and neither could most of you. Daniel Jackson somehow managed to get his foot in bounds on a fourth down play late against Nebraska, changing the narrative of the game and perhaps the entire season for both teams in a 13-10 Gophers victory in Thursday's opener. Rand marvels at the play itself and the impact it had on how we view the game in retrospect. 8:00: The Twins lead the Guardians by five games with 28 to play, a comfortable but not insurmountable lead. Can they hold on, especially now that Cleveland has added three dispatched Angels pitchers? Rand and Twins beat writer Bobby Nightengale discuss the home stretch and other key issues with the Twins. 32:00: A new deal for T.J. Hockenson.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand knows the Twins are still in relatively good shape after Wednesday, but they missed a great chance to put Cleveland away and continued a disturbing trend in the process. Closer Jhoan Duran, nearly unhittable for the first three months of the season, no longer gives off the feeling of invincibility. The Twins need the dominant version of Duran to return. Plus a big win for the Loons and a big question for the Gophers. 8:00: Wild General Manager Bill Guerin joined Rand at the State Fair on Wednesday to talk about the season ahead and how he spends his down time -- which will include a return to the Fair on Thursday to see the Duran Duran concert. He also answered some good questions from the audience at the Star Tribune stage. 33:00: What was your favorite Jalen Reagor moment? I know mine.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was admittedly a little puzzled when he saw the Vikings' initial 53-man roster released Tuesday. Three true running backs? Five corners? Eight healthy offensive linemen? This can only be viewed as a work in progress, and an inexperienced group at that. A few veteran pickups will be needed between now and the start of the season for it all to make sense. 7:00: Chip Towers from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution joins Rand for a look at Gophers football history and Georgia's attempt to duplicate the mighty Gophers. Minnesota is the last school (1934-36) to win three consecutive national titles. Can Georgia pull off the repeat this season? 32:00: Three disappointing losses Tuesday, but no real cause for panic.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand can't help but wonder if we are witnessing a passing of the torch with the Twins -- which would be fitting considering how red-hot Royce Lewis is. The rookie hit a grand slam for the second consecutive game, the first Twins player in history to do that, and continues to spark the offense in the absence of Byron Buxton. Plus an interesting roster move pays off immediately. 13:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins Rand for a look at the season opener Thursday against Nebraska. The Huskers have fallen on hard times in recent years, but this game is still a good early test. Johnson outlines the players who will be keys for the Gophers this year. 29:00: With the Vikings, there's Justin Jefferson -- and then everyone else.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included a strong series for the Twins as they took three of four from Texas. Sunday's comeback win was the they key to the whole thing, and it led to a discussion of both Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton. Reusse and Rand also talked about the Gophers volleyball team's impressive debut over the weekend, which leads into Tuesday's showdown with No. 1 Texas. The Gophers football team, meanwhile, is more than a touchdown favorite over Nebraska in Thursday's opener. It's a game that they pretty much need to win, Reusse said. Plus a few words on Trey Lance and Rudy Gobert's quick international exit.

Introduction: Thursday's Twins game followed a familiar recent script, but thankfully for the Twins the roles were reversed. After a pair of frustrating losses in which the bullpen couldn't hold leads in Milwaukee, the Twins rallied from a 5-2 deficit behind home runs and excellent relief work to defeat Texas 7-5 and restore a six-game lead in the AL Central. And the Lynx beat Dallas for the second time in three nights, gaining traction in the WNBA playoff picture. 8:00: Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath joins host Michael Rand for a big-picture look at MLS since the addition of Lionel Messi in Miami, the Loons' momentum coming off a strong showing in the inaugural Leagues Cup and a prediction for the final stretch of the season. 29:00: The Gophers football team announced a sellout for their opener against Nebraska.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand loves a good story about a potential player acquisition, and Trey Lance's likely availability is intriguing. The former No. 3 overall pick with the 49ers in 2021 has fallen on San Francisco's depth chart. Would it make sense for the Vikings to make a trade for the QB in hopes of reviving his career? Plus another bullpen meltdown for the Twins in the sweltering Milwaukee heat. 11:00: Ben Feldman from the Minnesota Wind Chill joins Rand in advance of the Friday and Saturday championship weekend for the American Ultimate Disc League at TCO Stadium in Eagan. The Wind Chill will play in Friday's semifinals, and the sport of ultimate is growing fast overall. 30:00: Will there be drama in the Lynx vs. Dallas rematch?

Introduction: The Twins led 3-2 after five innings in Milwaukee on Tuesday, with starter Bailey Ober cruising after a rough start. But he was lifted -- to his surprise -- in favor of reliever Dylan Floro, who gave up five runs in the decisive sixth. It underscored two flaws: The Twins are starting to prepare for the future while this year's outcome is very much in doubt, and they lack the trusted bullpen arms to make those decisions in high-leverage games. 8:00: The Lynx won 91-86 over Dallas on Tuesday at Target Center, a game that became heated at the end with a player ejection, fan ejections and opponent calling the home crowd "disgusting." 11:00: Star Tribune writer and editor Jeff Day joins host Michael Rand for a look ahead to the Gophers volleyball season that starts Friday. What should we expect with coach Keegan Cook taking over for Hugh McCutcheon? 34:00: The Gustavus hockey tragedy.

Introduction: Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson hasn't participated in contact drills with the Vikings in more than two weeks, and evidence is mounting that he is "holding in" -- going through meetings and other less-strenuous parts of the preseason -- while he awaits a new contract. Either that, or the ear infection he described last week is pretty nasty. 8:00: Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand for a look at Gophers Athletic Director Mark Coyle. His name surfaced Monday as someone USC was looking at for its AD vacancy, though later Monday USC made a different hire. The news offered a good moment to evaluate Coyle's tenure at Minnesota. Scoggins and Rand also talk Gophers football, with that season starting next week. 31:00: A wild NBA story.

Introduction: Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse shared an opinion just last week with host Michael Rand that Dallas Keuchel doesn't belong on a Major League mound. The Keuchel, coming off a disaster of a start against the Phillies, took a perfect game into the seventh for the Twins on Sunday. Baseball is a strange and wonderful game, and the Twins have been getting the best of it lately. 15:00: The Vikings might have depth problems across their roster this season, but particularly on the offensive line. That showed up in a big way in their preseason loss to Tennessee over the weekend. 22:00: Anthony Edwards earns high praise from Steve Kerr. 29:00: Can Augsburg be a football contender in the MIAC?

Introduction: The release of various professional team schedules shouldn't be that big of a deal because we already know pretty much every opponent already. But seeing the order does clarify some points, as evidenced again by Thursday's NBA schedule release. Host Michael Rand has some insights into what the Wolves' 82-game slate signals this year. 7:00: Rand is joined by Star Tribune sports columnist La Velle E. Neal for a look at this year's Twins, who have 40 games left and are in prime position to win the AL Central. They also get deep on how covering baseball has changed and note a significant Joe Mauer anniversary coming up. 30:00: The Vikings are opting for kicking stability, which is a smart move.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand explains how Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins -- inadvertently and no, not really -- ruined his chance at perfection on Wednesday's Immaculate Grid. Along the way, Bob Schnelker makes an appearance, obviously. 12:00: Former Gophers defenseman and current Wild defenseman Brock Faber joins Rand to catch up on a whirlwind four months and a look ahead to an important 2023-24 season. Faber will also reveal all of the cooking secrets that he and teammate/roommate Sammy Walker have discovered. 26:00: Diamond Sports is suing Sinclair; Twins lose but stay the same; Aaron Rodgers is not happy with the Jets offensive line.

Introduction: Matt Wallner's grand slam was the biggest hit Tuesday in the Twins' 5-3 win over the Tigers, but two players we were all ready to give up on also played key roles again. Max Kepler was on base twice and scored during the five-run fifth, while Emilio Pagan had another effective relief outing. Both have been excellent for the last two months, much to the surprise of almost everyone. 8:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins host Michael Rand for a breakdown of the NBA's new in-season tournament. Group play schedules were released on Tuesday. Plus what are the benefits and drawbacks of all the Wolves participating in international play this summer? And is a Jaden McDaniels extension coming soon? 32:00: The Twins have three of MLB's top 33 prospects.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the news that former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is joining forces with Aaron Rodgers on the Jets. A deal that could be worth as much as $8.6 million in 2023 feels like a reach for a player who had so many negative plays last season. 6:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a wide-ranging look at multiple topics, including whether this is finally the year that P.J. Fleck's Gophers throw the ball more. Scoggins has some Vikings and Twins thoughts as well. 34:00: Michael Oher alleges in a lawsuit that "The Blind Side" isn't the story you think it is.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joined host Michael Rand for a three-pronged look at baseball in Minnesota. They started with the Twins, who won the final two games of their series in Philadelphia -- aided by superb starting pitching from Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray -- to restore faith and a 4.5-game lead in the American League Central. Reusse asks an interesting question: Why not bring back Gray, an impending free agent, for 2024 and beyond? Next up are the Saints, and a history that goes back to Midway Stadium and years of independent baseball. A recent documentary helps tell that story, and Reusse gives his review. And finally, it's townball time in Minnesota. The small town tradition has a large anniversary -- 100 years -- and Reusse has some great stories to tell.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand stayed up to watch almost all of the Vikings' 24-13 preseason loss to the Seahawks and came away with five thoughts after the game. On the plus side, the initial depth -- particularly running back Ty Chandler -- looked solid in building a 10-0 lead. But the rest of an anonymous roster needs work. 12:00: Twins Daily co-founder Nick Nelson joins Rand to break down the reality of this Twins season -- a frustrating lesson in inconsistency that could still very well end with the franchise's first playoff victory in almost 20 years. 33:00: A tough loss for the Lynx.

Introduction: In an upside-down show, host Michael Rand starts with guest ChikenFingerz69 of social media and The Sportive podcast fame in a sort of cleansing segment. They talk about Rand and his bizarre, completely wrong opinion from nearly a decade ago that the Vikings needed to draft quarterback Johnny Manziel -- a decision that, had it been made, would have been a disaster. A new Netflix documentary on Manziel provides the humorous opportunity to revisit this history. 18:00: More bad sports takes? Oh, Rand has had those over the years. 23:00: Aaron Rodgers is concerned about the Jets' offensive line, the Vikings have some interesting position battles, a former Viking got in major trouble and Anthony Edwards got a slap on the wrist.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes on a rant of sorts talking about conference realignment and the mess it has made of math and geography. Eighteen teams in the Big Ten? Pacific Coast teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference? What are we doing here? Plus thoughts on the Lynx, Loons and Twins. 12:00: Rand welcomes in former NCAA and NBA champion Corliss Williamson, a new Timberwolves assistant coach. They get into the evolving role of the big man in the NBA, what it takes to carve out a niche in the NBA and how Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert can fit together. 29:00: The Saints are retiring the number of a short-term legend.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes the Twins' upswing, which included a rout of the Tigers on Monday that boosted their division lead to 5.5 games. Ryan Jeffers was key with a three-run home run, and catching depth -- much like goalie depth in the NHL -- appears to be a team strength. 6:00: The Vikings released their first depth chart Monday, and even though head coach Kevin O'Connell cautioned us not to read too much into things the battle at backup running back is intriguing. 10:00: Local soccer writer Jon Marthaler joins Rand for a discussion of the U.S. Women's National Team and Minnesota United. 28:00: The Wild will miss Matt Dumba.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included a sweep by the Twins of the Diamondbacks that pushed their AL Central lead to 4.5 games. After writing about how frustrating the Twins are to fans, Reusse admits he isn't quite sure what to think of them week to week. Plus the Big Ten just added two new members -- again -- pushing their footprint to 18 teams. With Washington and Oregon set to join the fold, a decision that seemingly happened overnight late last week, will there be any end in sight to the greed? Best guess: No. And the U.S. Women's National Team was bounced from the World Cup in the round of 16.

Introduction: It was a newsy Thursday for the Twins, as Sonny Gray won for the first time in 15 starts to snap a bizarre streak that had seen him pitch quite well with very little run support. We also found out that Joe Ryan -- a starter who had been rocked for 19 home runs in his last seven outings -- was pitching through a groin strain that he didn't tell anyone about. And Brooks Lee was promoted to Class AAA St. Paul. 7:30: Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand for a look at where the Vikings stand with both their roster-building and salary cap after details of Danielle Hunter's new deal were released. 35:00: The Vikings like their corners, they say, but they still brought in a veteran for a free agent visit. That's been a theme this week.

Introduction: Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan was shelled Wednesday and has now allowed 19 home runs in his last seven starts -- the most in Twins history over a span of that length. His struggles have been part of an overall starting rotation regression for the Twins, who lead the AL Central by two games despite having a worse record than nine of 10 AL teams outside their division. 8:00: Host Michael Rand is joined by Jason Gurwin, founder of The Streamable, for a look ahead to what comes next with the future of sports on TV. What will the Twins' TV situation look like in 2024? How are important are upcoming negotiations between Diamond Sports and DIRECTV? And what's new in the NBA, NHL and NFL? 30:00: The Vikings can't replicate their 2022 formula, but it might not matter in their division.

Introduction: If you watched the 2022 Vikings season -- or the recent Netflix documentary "Quarterback" -- you saw Kirk Cousins repeatedly getting hit. Much of the pressure came from a weak interior of the Vikings offensive line, something the team might be looking to correct after hosting free agent guard Dalton Risner this week. 6:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller joins host Michael Rand after an uneventful but newsworthy trade deadline came and passed Tuesday. The Twins did virtually nothing this season, even though they sit in first place, and one can't help but wonder if it will cost them down the road. Miller will explain their rationale and add context to some concerning injuries. 33:00: Anthony Edwards is trying something new.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand woke up Tuesday to a very narrow U.S. Women's National Team escape in the World Cup. A 0-0 draw with Portugal -- one in which Portugal hit the post with a golden opportunity late -- sent the Americans barely through to the knockout stage. 4:00: Rand details the trade deadline history for the Twins during the Derek Falvey and Thad Levine era, noting that they have tended to fare much better as sellers than buyers. That might be reason for caution heading into Tuesday's 5 p.m. deadline. 13:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins the show to talk about allegations within P.J. Fleck's program, positional battles as camp begins and U hockey star Logan Cooley turning pro. 29:00: Final thoughts on Wild goalies and Danielle Hunter.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a breakdown of what went wrong for the Twins in Kansas City. Reusse traces the roots back to a blown lead against the Mariners early last week, which sent the Twins spiraling toward what is now a five-game losing streak. What, if anything, should they do before this week's trade deadline? Reusse and Rand also get into Danielle Hunter's short-term contract fix, which will keep him on the Vikings in 2023. The Vikings have a lot of free agents after this season, including Hunter and Kirk Cousins. And Reusse gives his thoughts on the 3M Open, where he spent much of his weekend.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand ties together some interesting comments and football news in the opening segment, including a response Thursday from P.J. Fleck to a report critical of his program earlier this week. Plus new Broncos coach Sean Payton didn't hold back when talking about the organization's 2022 failures, Dalvin Cook might soon join forces with Aaron Rodgers with the Jets and Twins using an old trade deadline tactic. 12:00: Star Tribune outdoors writer and editor Bob Timmons joins Rand to discuss the impact of extreme heat and wild fires from Canada on the camping, hiking and fishing plans of Minnesotans this summer. 28:00: Gophers star Logan Cooley is leaving for the NHL.