StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the Wolves carried a lot of national love into the second game of a back-to-back against Phoenix on Wednesday. And a blowout loss to the Suns, 133-115, is not cause for alarm. This is what happens even to good teams that are tired from the fallout after an emotional win over the Warriors that cost Draymond Green a five-game suspension. 8:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller joins Rand for the latest on Diamond Sports bankruptcy proceedings and how they impact the Twins, Wolves and Wild. Plus Miller's thoughts on payroll and how the Twins will have less margin for error in 2024 with their decisions, in part because they figure to have less local TV revenue. 30:00: A good showing by the Gophers women's basketball team and an opportunity for the men.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes deep on the Wolves' 104-101 win over the Warriors on Tuesday. It was Minnesota's seventh win in a row, and yet another game this year that they might not have won in previous seasons. It started with a fracas, as the increasingly desperate Warriors lost both Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to ejection. From there, the Wolves had several big and calm moments needed to topple a fading Golden State dynasty. 16:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand to talk about the struggling Gophers football team. Where does P.J. Fleck's team go from here, after a nightmare against Purdue and with Ohio State looming on Saturday? And was Michigan's initial punishment too light? 31:00: A Vikings injury to watch and a big day for the Twins.

Introduction: What a strange and ultimately disappointing season its been for the Gophers football team and their head coach P.J. Fleck, with scrutiny mounting along with poor performances. Imagine if Minnesota goes 6-6 with wins over Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin but the year still feels hollow. 7:00: Andrew Krammer joins host Michael Rand to review the film of Sunday's Vikings victory. Head coach Kevin O'Connell can do new things with mobile quarterback Joshua Dobbs, and the tandem showed that off against the Saints. 27:00: Vikings poetry reveals both love and hate. 45:00: Break out the silly courts, it's NBA in-season tournament time again.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The four biggest teams currently playing could not have had a weekend of more significant opposites. Reusse gives plenty of praise to the Vikings and quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Minnesota won its fifth consecutive game -- all five without Justin Jefferson and now two without Kirk Cousins -- to improve to 6-4. The Wolves are the only local team hotter than that, with their winning streak up to six after an impressive win at Golden State. The Gophers football team, meanwhile, gave up 600 yards and 49 points to Purdue. Were we really talking about a Big Ten West title just two weeks ago? And the Wild gave up eight goals Sunday. They now head to Sweden, which might be good timing for everyone except Sweden.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at Joshua Dobbs, the Vikings' starting quarterback on Sunday. As a fourth-round pick in 2017, Dobbs came into the NFL with a label already: likely backup quarterback, if he survived in the league at all. Those labels determine opportunities and the situations quarterbacks ultimately end up in. Is Dobbs' ceiling higher than his path would suggest? 12:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins Rand to unpack Minnesota's path after last week's 27-26 heartbreaking loss to Illinois. The Big Ten West title is still in play, but so is missing a bowl game entirely. 26:00: Will the Wild score enough? And can the Wolves take their good play on the road?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand rattles off some really impressive numbers about the Timberwolves, including the fact that they have started the season with five consecutive home victories -- all of which the team has announced as Target Center sellouts. TV numbers are also way up this year compared to last year. Plus Rand notes the strong start for the Gophers women's basketball team and the Wild's blue line shakeup from two Wednesday trades. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand to talk about his latest long effort on former Gophers running backs Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III. In the wake of Barber's death last year, it's a story filled with both tragedy and hope. 29:00: Can Joshua Dobbs take the Vikings higher?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes one of the most complete Wild performances of the season in a 4-2 win over the Islanders on Tuesday. Two big plays by Pat Maroon and solid goaltending by the easily forgotten Marc-Andre Fleury were the keys to the Wild re-establishing their identity. 9:00: Star Tribune writer Kent Youngblood joins Rand ahead of Wednesday's season opener for the Gophers women's basketball team, the first game under new head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. Can the Gophers emerge as a threat to make the NCAA tournament? 29:00: Payroll will shrink for the Twins. What will that mean for their ability to compete in 2024?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Wolves' third straight win, and second over a previously undefeated team. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels made huge plays down the stretch of a 114-109 overtime victory Monday over Boston. Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out and was largely a hindrance. Is this a crossroads, good and bad, for the team? Plus a Bally Sports North update. 12:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand to break down Joshua Dobbs' impressive debut on the fly against the Falcons on Sunday. Is it sustainable, and what did we learn about both Dobbs and the Vikings' offense? Plus fewer blitzes from the Vikings. 34:00: Poetry befitting of a four-game winning streak. 46:00: A listener with a key assist.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at two games that were very similar -- but which elicited extremely different emotions if you are a Minnesota football fan. The Vikings pulled out a win for the ages on Sunday, rallying behind quarterback Joshua Dobbs. The veteran arrived midweek after a trade and was only in the game because of various injuries to Kirk Cousins, Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens. But Dobbs made big plays with his feet and arm, leading the Vikings to an improbably 31-28 win. Just a day earlier, the Gophers were undone by a backup quarterback from Illinois who conjured up his own late-game magic. The Gophers' 27-26 loss to Illinois on a late and long touchdown pass put a major dent in their hopes of rallying for a Big Ten West title. The path for the rest of the season and beyond only gets harder.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the bigger picture for the Wild after their latest defeat, a 5-3 setback against New Jersey on Thursday. The sobering news is that it's not just one thing dooming the Wild so far this season. Actually, it's almost everything. Is the 10-game sample enough to conclude that the rest of the season will be a struggle? 10:00: Timberwolves write Chris Hine joins Rand and offers some calming perspectives on just how much perception can change from game to game with any team. Fans were full of doom and gloom -- as well as ire for coach Chris Finch -- after a Monday loss to Atlanta. But a convincing win over Denver for the NBA's best defensive team seems to suggest there is a strong path forward. 32:00: Vikings QB Josh Dobbs is smart. He explains how that translates to a football field.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand lauds the Timberwolves for their win over the Nuggets but laments that he (and others) weren't able to watch it because of continuing problems with the Bally Sports Plus app. That led directly into listener questions about the future of sports on TV, Dick Bremer and local superstars. 14:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand ahead of Ben Johnson's third season as head coach. The Gophers are picked to finish last in the Big Ten again. Will they be better than that? Fuller thinks they will. 29:00: The Rangers win the World Series and Big Ten coaches turn up the heat on Michigan.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand assesses the Vikings' new quarterback room in the wake of Kirk Cousins' season-ending injury and sees the opportunity in it. They have a nine-game sample to gain as much information as possible about what life is like without Cousins, which should inform how they proceed in 2024 and beyond. 10:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand for a look at the Gophers football team and the opportunity ahead. What specific help should you be rooting for as Minnesota tries to forge a path to a Big Ten West title? Plus the latest on the Michigan controversy. 28:00: Dick Bremer's retirement from the Twins and an uncertain TV future.

On a special Tuesday afternoon NFL trade deadline edition of Daily Delivery, host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III to break down two interesting Vikings moves -- most notably the acquisition of quarterback Joshua Dobbs. How soon (if at all) could Dobbs play? Neal and Rand have different opinions on that, but both are intrigued by his mobility and rushing success this season. The trade shows the Vikings are at least giving themselves options in the wake of Kirk Cousins' season-ending injury. Plus the sixth-round pick it took to get Dobbs was immediately recouped when the Vikings traded offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland to Jacksonville.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the latest Timberwolves loss, a 127-113 defeat at Atlanta in which the Wolves gave up a 21-point second-half lead. Is this more of the same from a year ago? And are fans correct to be blaming head coach Chris Finch already? 6:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a review of the film from Sunday's 24-10 win at Green Bay. Of urgent importance: How backup quarterback Jaren Hall looked. The fifth-round rookie came on in relief of Kirk Cousins, and with Cousins out for the year he could be starting next week. Will the Vikings look to add another QB before Tuesday's trade deadline. 27:00: Vikings poetry delves into youth sports. 40:00: It could have been a snowy World Series.

Kirk Cousins' season-ending Achilles injury dominated Monday's show featuring Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse and host Michael Rand. Just when the Vikings were getting their season in order and squaring their record at 4-4 with a convincing win over a bad Packers team, they lost their durable signal caller. What happens next? Will the Vikings try to make a trade or sign another quarterback? Will they stick with rookie Jaren Hall? What they do will tell us a lot about who they think they are this season. Plus Reusse's thoughts on Jimmy Butler, the Gophers and more.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives into the Wild and Vikings, finding an easy answer for their woes. The Wild aren't stopping pucks? Filip Gustavsson might not think so, but it probably has a lot to do with their defensive depth taking a big hit. The Vikings aren't running the ball how they want to this season? Maybe they miss their longtime 1,000-yard rusher, Dalvin Cook. 9:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand to talk about the World Series between the surprising Diamondbacks and Rangers -- and what it can tell us about the Twins' path forward. They also get into Gophers football, while Neal shares insights on St. Thomas. 29:00: The Michigan sign stealing scandal has reached the Gophers; LeBron's minutes restriction lasted exactly one game.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was disappointed by the Wolves' season opener against Toronto, a 97-94 loss that featured much of the same offensive dysfunction we saw a year ago -- problems that supposedly were addressed in the offseason. It was just one game, but if it becomes a trend it will be even more of a concern. 10:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins Rand in the wake of Minnesota's 12-10 victory in Iowa City. With winnable games on the schedule, can the Gophers get on a roll and get themselves back in the Big Ten West race? 26:00: Sometimes a flawed process yields positive results. Kirk Cousins talks about how that feels.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand started with the Wild's 7-4 win over Edmonton on Tuesday, a testament to the faith and patience coaches showed in an underperforming top line. Instead of breaking up Ryan Hartman, Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, coach Dean Evason evaluated their play and talked to the players. They stayed together, and Hartman's hat trick was the reward for all. It's a good lesson for many teams, including the Wolves as they start their season tonight. 10:00: The film review on the Vikings from their 22-17 win over San Francisco reveals a team that looked very strong at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Is their offensive line becoming a relative strength? Plus an exploration in the film review and in our Vikings poetry section of whether the Vikings played their best game of the year or if even better things are to come. 41:00: A very strange World Series reminds Rand of a very strange trip.

Introduction: The narrative of the Vikings season flipped over a three-hour stretch Monday. Suddenly they have a strong offensive line? A stout defense? A clutch QB in prime time? Luck on their side? And a real chance to make the playoffs? That's what it looked like to host Michael Rand after a 22-17 win over San Francisco at U.S. Bank Stadium. 12:00: Star Tribune Wolves writer Chris Hine joined Rand for a preview of the Wolves season, which begins Wednesday and has a real make-or-break feel to it -- especially after they signed Jaden McDaniels to a huge extension just before Monday's deadline. Can the Wolves win enough to keep their core intact, or will their play and bloated salaries force them to break things up? 32:00: The Astros lost, which is always a good thing.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports and a look ahead to Monday Night Football. They start with the Gophers' 12-10 win over Iowa, a 59-minute slog jolted to life by a controversial call overturning a punt return for a touchdown that helped Minnesota secure its first win in Iowa City since 1999. You might not be stunned to find out that Reusse wasn't all that impressed, but you'll want to hear what he says. Plus Reusse is higher on the Vikings on Monday than most of us, but he'll have at least one eye on playoff baseball.

Introduction: Saturday marks the 10-year anniversary of Josh Freeman's one and only start for the Vikings. It came on Monday Night Football against the Giants, and it did not go well. Freeman was rushed into the lineup midseason. The Vikings' desperate search for a QB continued. And the game is still seared into host Michael Rand's memory. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a breakdown of the big football games in the next couple of days. Can the Gophers and/or Vikings score season-changing victories? 32:00: The Wild lost their composure and another game; the Wolves finished a perfect preseason.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the remaining MLB playoff teams and finds teams scoring runs without a preponderance of strikeouts. Houston and Texas, for instance, combined for 13 runs on Wednesday while striking out just 10 times combined. It was a far cry from how the Twins' season ended and made Rand think more about where the Twins can alter their approach. Plus, an opportunity on Thursday for the Wild. 10:00: The Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda joins Rand for a look at Minnesota United. The Loons are still very much in the MLS playoff race, but as soon as the year ends they will turn to a biggest question of who will coach the team long-term. 25:00: The impact of Marcus Davenport's injury and an interesting read on the future of sports on TV.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand is still concerned about the Wild's long-term outlook, but Tuesday's 5-2 win over Montreal restored a certain amount of order. The Wild still have a lot of strengths to play to, and their salary cap situation is not exactly unique. But they really can't afford more injuries to their top players. Plus the Wild are a good lesson that we should apply to the Wolves this season. 10:00: Randy Johnson joins the show ahead of the Gophers football game Saturday at Iowa. P.J. Fleck has never beaten the Hawkeyes, but the Gophers' best chance at reviving a disappointing season starts Saturday. 27:00: Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have been a package deal since they arrived with the Twins seven years ago. Is that duo about to split up?

Introduction: The Wild's 7-4 loss to Toronto over the weekend was costly on two levels. First, Matt Boldy was injured, which leaves the team short one big scorer while exposing a major salary cap crunch. And the Wild also gave up seven goals in the game, causing the team to juggle its defensive pairings just two games into the year. It could be a tough go for the Wild until Boldy and Jared Spurgeon are healthy. 8:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins host Michael Rand as they try to sort out exactly what is wrong with the team's offense. The running game has been stagnant and the third-down offense was poor against the Bears. Plus, what do they make of a surprising Pro Football Focus stat about the offensive line? 28:00: Vikings poetry, even if the game didn't deserve it. 41:00: Aaron Rodgers can't stay out of the spotlight, Part Infinity.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse and host Michael Rand started with Sunday's 19-13 Vikings victory, their second win of the year. There was very little to like about the offense's first game without Justin Jefferson, and this fact remains: Brian Flores' defense has been more impressive than Kevin O'Connell's offense all things considered this season. What will the Twins do in 2024? A look at some roster decisions and how the Twins can't take for granted that they will be able to replicate the things that worked well this year. The Wild have played two very different games and have two problems: Their defense is thin, and they don't have any cap space to make changes.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild's 2-0 win over Florida in Thursday's season opener, a game that couldn't have gone much better for Minnesota. Brock Faber scored, Marco Rossi had a goal (even if it was disallowed) and Filip Gustavsson picked up where he left off with a 41-save shutout. But they did lose Marcus Johansson to a third-period injury, something that could test their depth and salary cap immediately. 7:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Bobby Nightengale joins Rand for a breakdown of the Twins' roster as they head into the offseason. Big questions loom for several free agents, including starting pitcher Sonny Gray, while roughly $10 million options on Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler are interesting as well. The Twins might shed payroll, too, as they prepare for a smaller local TV contract in a future without Bally Sports North. 30:00: We might still be talking about this postseason if calls had gone the Twins way in the playoffs.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand senses the Twins and fans are in the honeymoon phase of team building. There is disappointment after Wednesday's season-ending loss to Houston in the ALDS, but there is also plenty of optimism over how the season went. The next step, though, is much harder: Getting past this point, when getting stuck gets old quickly. 6:00: Chris Hine joins Rand for a look at the Timberwolves, who are staying quiet through the offseason and preseason as they attempt to have the kind of season this year that they hoped to have a year ago. What will the regular-season rotation look like when play starts in less than two weeks? 28:00: Kirk Cousins addressed trade rumors and how he tries to stay ignorant.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was hoping to bring you some of the sounds of a joyous Target Field on Wednesday, but instead the rowdy crowd was quickly silenced whenever it seemed like there was an occasion to cheer. The Twins managed just three hits in a 3-2 loss to Houston that ended their season -- one that, overall, provided plenty of highs and optimism for the future. 7:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand to break down the slumping offense and the Twins' rotating cast of arms approach in Game 4. Plus a look ahead to the key questions looming ahead this offseason.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand still had the Twins on his mind even after Tuesday's special bonus episode and Wednesday night's planned bonus episode off of their home playoff games at Target Field. Their flaws were exposed in Tuesday's 9-1 loss to Houston. Can they overcome them a day later, or will it take until 2024 to address them? 10:00: The Wild are pressed so tight against the salary cap this season that they will enter the year with just 20 players on the active roster. Can they finesse another playoff season out of their current group? If they get back to the postseason, can they advance? Rand is joined by Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan to tackle those questions and more with the season set to begin Thursday. 34:00: KAT's quiet preseason continues.

Introduction: On a bonus edition of Daily Delivery, host Michael Rand runs through all the disappointment from Tuesday's 9-1 Twins loss to the Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS. Fans picked apart the performance by starter Sonny Gray as well as the Twins' approach at the plate. It's all up to Joe Ryan in Game 4 on Wednesday, and you'll hear from the young Twins starter. 10:00: Columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand to help break down what went wrong on Tuesday, but also to provide his perspective on things the Twins can do differently in hopes of winning Game 4. And remember, if they can force a Game 5 back in Houston on Friday, Pablo Lopez would be back on the mound.

Introduction: Game 3 Twins starter Sonny Gray has been everything the team could have wanted this season -- enough so that it's hard to imagine the Twins without him. Gray is a free agent at the end of this season, and his future with the Twins is an interesting subplot to a huge playoff game at Target Field. 7:00: Justin Jefferson's hamstring injury is bad enough that he's headed to injured reserve and will miss at least four games. What does that mean for a Vikings team that -- with the help of film review from Andrew Krammer -- still has a lot of holes after a 1-4 start. 23:00: Soothe yourself with some Vikings poetry. 35:00: A dramatic postseason finish and two playoff firsts.

On Part II of Monday's show, Patrick Reusse and Michael Rand pick apart the Vikings' outrageous misfortune -- much of it still self-inflicted -- during yet another one-score home loss on Sunday. The Chiefs were very beatable, but the Vikings are not up to the task. Are we even sure they're better than the Bears, next week's opponent? Plus Reusse rips Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck for not trying to be more aggressive while trailing Saturday against Michigan, suggesting that the Gophers were more interested in keeping the score down than anything else. It doesn't get any easier next year and beyond for Fleck's Gophers. Plus a final word on fired Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath.

On a Monday so jam-packed we had to make two shows, Patrick Reusse and Michael Rand talk exclusively about the Twins in Part I. After a Wild Card sweep followed by a Game 1 ALDS loss to the Astros, the Twins got dominant performances from starting pitcher Pablo Lopez and shortstop Carlos Correa in a 6-2 win Sunday that evened the series as it moves to Target Field on Tuesday. What are the keys to the series the rest of the way? And will Reusse actually praise Derek Falvey?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives right into a preview of the American League Division Series between the Twins and Astros. He and Star Tribune beat writer Phil Miller speculate on the Game 1 pitching matchup and what the Twins need to do to advance even deeper in the playoffs. 20:00: Get to know new Vikings running back Cam Akers, who gave the backfield immediate help in Sunday's win. 25:00: Minnesota United is sputtering to the finish line, and changes seem inevitable.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at three players who maybe didn't steal the show in the Twins' victories over Toronto but who played important roles all the same. And he looks ahead to the American League Division Series starting Saturday in Houston. 15:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand to talk about the other big games this weekend -- namely Michigan at Gophers on Saturday and Chiefs at Vikings on Sunday. It's setting up to be a huge weekend, though Minnesota teams will be underdogs throughout. 31:00: One key stat that could turn the Vikings' season around.

On another special edition of Daily Delivery, host Michael Rand dives into the key moments of the Twins' 2-0 victory over Toronto -- a Wild Card sweep that propels them to the next round against Houston. You'll hear fan reaction -- and Kirk Cousins' perspective -- as well as postgame insights from Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III.

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?