StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Host Michael Rand spends some time on the Lynx, who had a big win Wednesday but lost star Napheesa Collier late to an ankle injury. That could loom large during a tough stretch of games coming up. The U.S. Women's Soccer team, meanwhile, had a hard-fought draw in the World Cup while Major League Soccer continues to make significant strides. 8:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a breakdown of the recently released Netflix documentary "Quarterback," which prominently features the Vikings' Kirk Cousins. What did we learn and what was reinforced about the Vikings' QB from behind-the-scenes footage and interviews? 31:00: A Twins trade and a nightmare playoff scenario.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand listened to Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah get peppered with tough questions -- followed by understandably vague answers -- on Tuesday ahead of the start of training camp, and he was struck by this thought: Year 2 for this regime has a lot of unknowns, and it will largely tell the story of whether a "competitive rebuild" is really working. 13:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand to talk about the Twins, who let one get away Tuesday but have generally been surging since the break. What do we believe about this team and what should be the trade deadline priority? 32:00: Big money is flying around sports.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand had a range of selfish emotions Monday as a 2-1 Twins lead became a 3-2 deficit in the ninth inning, threatening the premise of something he had just written about. But another Twins rally and eventual 4-3 victory only served to strengthen his point about the two keys to the Twins' post-break success. 6:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand to unpack a whole bunch of Vikings questions ahead of the start of training camp this week. The biggest one: What will happen with star edge rusher Danielle Hunter, who is unhappy with his contract? 37:00: Will "dog emergency" enter our sports lexicon?

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse as the catch up on Minnesota sports. Rand thought he was making pretty good time on a recent trip to North Dakota, but it turns out he was going only about half as fast as Vikings first-round pick Jordan Addison. What does Reusse make of Addison going 140 mph at 3 a.m. in St. Paul? The Twins, meanwhile, are 8-2 since the All-Star break -- including 4-1 in one-run games. The hitting is better, the luck is evening out, and a three-game lead in the AL Central is the result. The only quibble: Are they using Jhoan Duran too much?

Star Tribune summer intern Noah Furtado takes over the show for a day and gives an update on some projects he has been working on at the beginning of the show. Later, he welcomes in veteran Star Tribune writer Jerry Zgoda and they talk about a couple of subjects: Minnesota United Soccer, Zgoda's regular beat on which Furtado has filled in this summer, and 3M Open golf, which begins next week.

Host Michael Rand welcomes in Star Tribune multiplatform editor and writer Jeff Day for a fun two-part "draft" of sorts featuring the 10 worst trades in Minnesota sports history (preceded yesterday by the 10 best trades in Minnesota sports history). They traded off selections, 1-10, and wound up with five apiece. Agree or disagree? Did Rand or Day wind up with the best "team"? Leave a comment, send an email ([email protected]) or find Rand (@randball) on social media to let them know.

Host Michael Rand welcomes in Star Tribune multiplatform editor and writer Jeff Day for a fun two-part "draft" of sorts featuring the 10 best trades in Minnesota sports history (followed tomorrow by the 10 worst trades in Minnesota sports history). They traded off selections, 1-10, and wound up with five apiece. Agree or disagree? Did Rand or Day wind up with the best "team"? Leave a comment, send an email ([email protected]) or find Rand (@randball) on social media to let them know.

Introduction: Byron Buxton is 0-for-17 with 10 strikeouts since the All-Star break and is now hitting just .196 with an OPS below .700. If the plan at the start of the year was to keep Buxton healthy by primarily using him as a DH, the Twins are seeing very little benefit from what the plan has become: A floundering Buxton as the full-time DH. Is Buxton miserable as the DH? Is he too hurt to play at all? Whatever the case, he needs to be out of the lineup, host Michael Rand argues. 9:00: Jon Marthaler joins Rand to preview the upcoming Women's World Cup which begins Thursday. In a more wide open field than usual, will the U.S. be able to capture another title? 27:00: Two listener questions about Karl-Anthony Towns.

Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse look back at the weekend in sports, which included a Twins sweep in Oakland that put Minnesota back on much better footing in the AL Central. The Twins scored 20 runs in the three games, and combined with three Cleveland losses they took a 2.5-game lead in the division. But did they prove anything other than that they can beat bad teams? Plus Reusse was captivated by the Wimbledon men's final on Sunday, while both he and Rand bemoaned the lack of drama in the off-seasons of prominent Minnesota teams.

Introduction: It's been a week of negative talk about the Twins after they carried a losing record into the All-Star break, but let's take a look at what could go right now that play resumes Friday in Oakland. Host Michael Rand examines an excellent pitching staff, an offense with room for realistic improvement and a forgiving schedule that could combine to get the Twins over the hump in a weak AL Central. 13:00: Star Tribune writer and editor Jeff Day joins Rand for a look at the Gophers volleyball program, which recently gained two big recruiting wins under new head coach Keegan Cook. Day will explain Cook's approach to relationship-building an give next year's outlook. 31:00: How are the Wolves looking in Summer League?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at a recent story about running back values and relates it back to a recent episode with Vikings running back Alexander Mattison. In all leagues, teams are searching for value from rookie contracts. But running backs are getting particularly squeezed. 7:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a look at what Minnesota has done in free agency so far to round out its roster. Spots 8-10 in the rotation are in flux, which should make for an interesting battle once camp starts. Plus Rand has moved on to a trade deadline deal for Karl-Anthony Towns, but Hine is quick to throw water on that. 32:00: The Lynx stumbled into the break while the Loons got a pleasant glimpse of the future.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand spends some time on three interesting stories that emerged from the MLB All-Star game: Star Tribune writer Bobby Nightengale's tale of Pablo Lopez, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred giving an update on local TV rights and players asking for tweaks to the pitch clock for the postseason. 12:00: Star Tribune college football writer Randy Johnson joins Rand for a look at the Gophers and at the impact of Northwestern firing coach Pat Fitzgerald. 23:00: Rand runs through some listener questions and takes note of some new rules changes in the NBA.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand knows the Timberwolves are saying they want to build their team around Anthony Edwards, but he doesn't see evidence yet of a roster transformation suited to Edwards' skill set. Who's the point guard of the future? What about other perimeter shooters who can take advantage of double-teams? 6:00: La Velle E. Neal III hops in the hot seat and Rand gives him five big questions to answer about the Twins. Neal sounds more optimistic than pessimistic about where 2023 is headed, but he also knows where the blame should go if things don't get better after the break. 30:00: The New York Times is disbanding its sports department.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for what mostly became a rant about the Twins, who were swept going into the All-Star break and fell a game below .500. The starting pitching couldn't have been much better during the first 91 games, but the Twins were held to two runs or fewer in 40% of those games. The result: A frustrating team. Reusse says the Twins need to make some major changes to either the lineup, the decisionmakers or both before play resumes, and he asserts that manager Rocco Baldelli won't survive with his job if this play continues through the rest of the season. 31:00: Reusse and Rand saved a little time for the Timberwolves and some recent comments by head coach Chris Finch.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand slows it down a bit at the start of the show to talk about two subjects: Immaculate Grid, a new baseball trivia game of sorts that lets Rand use his vast reservoir of seemingly useless 1980s and 1990s baseball knowledge; and the evolution of Twitter, prompted by a listener question. 12:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Bobby Nightengale Jr. joins Rand to give a midyear report of sorts on the team. With just three games left before the All-Star break, the Twins are in good shape in the AL Central. The offense will tell the story of whether they can be even better. Plus Nightengale looks ahead to the MLB Draft, with the Twins having the No. 5 pick on Sunday. 31:00: It was closer than they might have liked, but Minnesota Aurora advanced in the USL W playoffs.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes aim at the dumbest rule in sports -- the clause in NBA contracts that allows players to earn tens of millions of dollars more just for being named to an All-NBA team. It made a huge difference in Karl-Anthony Towns' contract extension, and whether Anthony Edwards makes an All-NBA team this season will be the difference in about $43 million on his deal over the next five seasons. Plus Rand responds to a listener query about Twins injuries and notes the recent cooling off from Luis Arraez. 11:00: Star Tribune sports intern Noah Furtado joins Rand to talk about three teams he's been covering lately: Minnesota Aurora, United and Lynx. All three are trending in the right direction, with Aurora set for a big playoff game Thursday and the other two finding their footing. 29:00: Speaking of the Lynx, Cheryl Reeve made it known that the team definitely isn't "tanking" for better draft position in 2024. Eight wins in their last 11 games offer ample evidence.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand came back from the brief holiday with a fresh set of eyes on the Timberwolves' future. Anthony Edwards' new contract brings even greater clarity to the need to trade Karl-Anthony Towns this offseason. It's just that simple for Tim Connelly. 5:00: The Twins are beating up on the Royals, which is good news. But they are increasingly beat up by injuries, a continuing source of frustration. 8:00: Vikings running back Alexander Mattison joins Rand for a discussion of the work Mattison is doing with his offseason camps, the role of mentors in his life and his elevated status on the Vikings' roster after the release of Dalvin Cook. 26:00: A point of clarification about the Twins staying (for now) on Bally Sports North.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included one burst of offense from the Twins before a regression right back into futility. They did still manage to win two of three from Baltimore -- including a 1-0 win -- to claw back into first place, but how long will it last? 14:00: Listeners are upset that Twins games will be shown on Bally Sports North for at least a few more months, news we learned over the weekend when Diamond Sports made its scheduled payment to the Twins. 20:00: Rand thinks the Wolves are making a mistake if they try to run it back this year without trading Karl-Anthony Towns. 33:00: The Wild replaced their grit, while the Lynx and Loons are hot.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand appreciates the approach and honesty of the Wild, who addressed an organizational weakness by drafting centers with each of their top three picks in the draft on Wednesday and Thursday. They even skipped a player who was ranked higher on their draft board to make one of the picks, a rare admission for a team to make. 6:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a breakdown of the Naz Reid signing, what it means for the salary cap, what it does/doesn't mean for Karl-Anthony Towns and how all the pieces fit together with free agency starting Friday. 29:00: After a slow start, the Lynx are winning enough that they are in playoff position.

Introduction: It's rare to hear Twins manager Rocco Baldelli forcefully criticize his players, but he did just that after another feeble offensive effort in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to Atlanta that dropped the Twins out of first place. Now we wait and see: Are any meaningful and visible changes coming, either to the lineup or the staff? 6:00: Diamond Sports and the Arizona Diamondbacks released a joint statement postponing a hearing scheduled for Thursday. The two sides say they are making progress on a compromise to keep the Diamondbacks on Bally Sports, something that could foreshadow a similar resolution for the Twins for the rest of 2023. 10:00: Steve Grove, the new publisher and CEO of the Star Tribune, joins Rand to talk about the role sports play at our media company and in Minnesota overall. Grove, with Minnesota roots and a history as a prep and college athlete, knows the value of a well-told story. 31:00: The Wild's first-round pick is a local product, while the Wolves moved on from a key bench player.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of Minnesota United's latest attempt to solve a five-year problem, the signing of Finland's Teemu Pukki to a designated player slot. Maybe, just maybe, Pukki will succeed where so many others have come up short. And the Lynx were energized by the return of Diamond Miller on Tuesday's win over the Seattle Storm. 7:00: Former Twins catcher A.J. Pierzynski joins Rand for a free-flowing conversation. They cover a lot of ground, including a huge "what-if" Pierzynski still has about the 2002 season, how much A.J. hated striking out, why he was such a villain and what he thinks of the current Twins. 28:00: The Twins stumbled to the midpoint of the season. Still technically in first place even though they are a game below .500, something has to change in the team's hitting approach and results.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand noted the introduction of Wolves second-round picks Leonard Miller and Jaylen Clark on Monday and how they were given what amounted to first-round pick treatment. Part of that is the absence of first-rounders, but part is also an increasing emphasis in the NBA on the value of second-round picks. Plus Rand was not at all surprised that a Twins lineup without Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton faltered against Atlanta. 10:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joined Rand to preview the NHL Draft and to set up an offseason that could mostly be about internal improvement. 29:00: Pairing high-priced stars with young, cheap talent is the name of the game in pretty much every league these days.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look back at the weekend in sports. It was a newsy Sunday as we learned that Timberwolves big man Naz Reid is returning on a three-year, $42 million deal. Does that make it more likely that the Wolves run it back this season? Or is it foreshadowing for a Karl-Anthony Towns trade? The Twins won on Sunday, but their story remains the same: Too many strikeouts. At least one hitter, the young Royce Lewis, seems to be going against the grain with his approach lately. And Reusse weighs on on Gophers hockey recruiting ahead of this week's NHL Draft.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at Thursday's short start from Sonny Gray (four innings, 79 pitches) and plays audio from the frustrated pitcher. It was the type of game where removing Gray looked especially bad in hindsight after the bullpen gave up six runs in an 8-4 loss. 5:00: Two big story lines with the Vikings involve the status of Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter. Might they be related? 8:00: Marcus Fuller joins Rand to set up the summer and season ahead for the Gophers men's and women's basketball teams. 30:00: Rand notes with interest the decision by Lindsay Whalen to make a clean break with the Gophers instead of taking on a special assistant role, as was revealed this week.

Introduction: Karl-Anthony Towns went on former teammate Patrick Beverley's podcast this week and had some interesting things to say about his legacy and trade rumors involving the Timberwolves. It was the second long podcast KAT has done this offseason, one that feels like a time of transition for him. 7:00: WCCO radio's Chad Hartman joins Rand and regales listeners with some great stories of the Los Angeles golf scene -- setting the stage for the U.S. Open that begins Thursday. Hartman, son of legendary Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman, also talked Wolves and Twins with Rand. 36:00: The Twins won again, and Carlos Correa stayed hot.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched Vegas players hoist the Stanley Cup on Tuesday and couldn't help but feel the pain of Minnesota fans. The collective playoff misfortunes of the Wild, Wolves, Twins and Vikings in the past three-plus decades make it hard to stomach success in less-suffering markets. 10:00: Carlos Correa delivered another big moment for the Twins in a walk-off win on Tuesday. 14:00: Star Tribune Minnesota United beat writer Jerry Zgoda joins Rand for a breakdown of the Loons halfway through the season. Can Emanuel Reynoso be the spark for a second-half surge? 29:00: Great news for gymnastics fans.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at parallels between the Nuggets and Timberwolves now that Denver has won its first NBA title. The teams are being built by the same person in much the same way, but is the personnel in Minnesota good enough to replicate what Tim Connelly did in Denver? 8:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand to dissect the news that Danielle Hunter is expected to skip mandatory minicamp starting Tuesday. What does that mean for his future with the Vikings? Plus they lament the Twins' bullpen and laud P.J. Fleck's class of 2024. 30:00: When will the Vikings' salary cap no longer be a mess?

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included an untimely bullpen meltdown by the Twins. On the verge of an impressive sweep at Toronto, the Twins gave up a 6-1 lead -- including the decisive runs allowed by much-maligned reliever Emilio Pagan -- in a 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays. Meanwhile, Minnesota United lost 4-0 to Montreal, but Loons manager Adrian Heath was convinced his side had the better chances in the game. Was he right? Plus Reusse's thoughts on the Vikings' unresolved situation with Danielle Hunter as minicamp approaches and a stirring comeback by the Lynx on their celebration weekend.

Intro: Host Michael Rand pauses to reflect on the Dalvin Cook era, which sounds like it will be coming to an end officially very soon via either a trade or release by the Vikings. The former second-round pick has been a 1,100 yard rusher and Pro Bowler each of the past four seasons, production that should be getting more praise than it seems like it is. 6:00: Two quotes about the Twins -- an absurd one Thursday about the number of barrels they had in a loss and another from former player/minor league manager Doug Mientkiewicz -- caught Rand's attention. 10:00: Bobby Nightengale Jr., recently hired by the Star Tribune as part of our Twins beat writing coverage, joins Rand to talk about his family, his career path and what he sees so far from the Twins. 28:00: It's a weekend of celebration for the Lynx.

Introduction: In their last 13 games, the Twins have been truly all-or-nothing on offense. They've scored at least seven runs in five of them; in the other eight, they've been held to two or fewer. And in their last five games, including four consecutive losses, they have just five runs combined. That recipe has the Twins back to even at 31-31 and in danger in the weak AL Central. 8:00: NBA Insider Bobby Marks from ESPN joins Rand for a thorough breakdown of the Timberwolves roster. With a new collective bargaining agreement reshaping finances, this summer feels like the time for a Karl-Anthony Towns trade. But is that the right move from a basketball standpoint? 36:00: Soccer legend Lionel Messi is coming to MLS.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts the show with a look at the Timberwolves and Vikings. The Wolves' GM job was recently called one of the worst in the NBA, while a detailed piece about the Vikings shows how hard it will be for them to replicate last year's success this year. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a longer examination of the disappointing career arc of Max Kepler, who went hitless again Tuesday as the Twins were shut out. With Byron Buxton on the injured list, the struggle is real. Plus Rand and Neal talk NBA Finals and the stunning news in the world of golf. 33:00: Want some good news? Try Minnesota Aurora.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was intrigued and maybe a little alarmed recently when he was playing around with artificial intelligence and the 1998 NFC title game. Basic facts were completely wrong, but the emotion of the day was spot-on. Plus a former Vikings owner was sentenced to more than six years in prison. 11:00: Answering an important listener question about the future of the Twins on TV. 13:00: Star Tribune high school writer Jim Paulsen joins Rand to talk about the upcoming spring state tournaments and to explain some recent controversies the Minnesota State High School League has had to deal with. 27:00: Some drama with the Gophers women's hockey team.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at Minnesota sports, including the continued fall of Twins outfielder Max Kepler. Reusse is out of patience and thinks the Twins need to be done with Kepler now, particularly with multiple left-handed hitting options ready to take his place. Plus Reusse and Rand run down a list of bullpen villains for the Twins over the years -- some of them perhaps unfairly maligned -- and have a renewed interest in the NBA Finals after the Heat's Game 2 win in Denver.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the latest Lynx loss, which dropped them to 0-6, and the mounting frustration expressed afterward by head coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve. 6:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller joins Rand after spending a lot of time in Houston -- some of it in bankruptcy court -- to unpack all that is going on with the Twins. A judge ruled Thursday that Diamond Sports must pay the Twins' $54.8 million 2023 rights fees in full. That could lead to a termination of the contract in the middle of this season, which would cause MLB to take over production and distribution of games. Miller also talks through the Twins' recent stretch of good play and their Thursday injuries. 33:00: We learned a plain truth in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand brings you the latest on the ongoing legal battle between the Twins and Bally Sports North, with fresh reporting from colleague Phil Miller at Wednesday's bankruptcy court hearing in Houston. We should know today whether the Twins will stay (for now) on Bally Sports North or whether an in-season change is coming. 9:00: Jeff Day joins Rand for a discussion of Minnesota franchise values and how they have skyrocketed over the years. What are the factors driving up these prices? And is there any end in sight? 31:00: Aaron Rodgers continues to re-write history.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand digs into Tuesday's news that Bally Sports intentionally missed a payment to the San Diego Padres, allowing broadcast rights to revert to Major League Baseball. Starting Wednesday, MLB will produce and show the games, offering them through a number of cable/satellite providers as well as in-market streaming for $19.99 a month. With the Twins potentially facing the same scenario as a bankruptcy judge prepares to hear arguments about their TV deal on Wednesday, we now have a real example to track and follow. 10:00: The Star Tribune's Rachel Blount joins Rand to talk about horse safety, what Canterbury Park is doing well and her upcoming story about the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown. 25:00: The Lynx and Twins were plagued by familiar problems on Tuesday, while a familiar name could soon be making big decisions for the Knicks.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look back at the weekend in sports and a look ahead to the future of sports on TV. Royce Lewis helped rescue the sagging Twins offense Monday in his return to the team, belting a three-run homer and a ninth-inning, game-tying single in a 7-5 win over the Astros. What's the one thing that sets Lewis apart from his peers? Reusse has the answer. Plus Rand and Reusse weigh in on the Heat's big win in Game 7 and Vegas' win in Game 6, dashing hopes of a full comeback from a 3-0 series deficit in both leagues. And how does Reusse navigate the challenging sports viewing landscape that Rand wrote about recently?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand had an inkling the Celtics could still make it a series against the Heat even after falling behind 3-0. Now the series is 3-2 after another Boston win, and Game 6 will tell us a lot about whether the Celtics can make history and become the first NBA team to rally all the way back in series. 7:00: Jeff Day joins Rand to talk about his deeply reported story on the huge money and participation involved with club volleyball in Minnesota. It's a booming industry, with tournaments often playing out at the Minneapolis Convention Center. 29:00: Another rough game dropped the Lynx to 0-3.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand recognizes that we can all be critical of trades that don't work out, so he decided to start Thursday's show by acknowledging a big deal that did work: the 2021 Twins trade for Joe Ryan, who is now 7-1 after Wednesday's win over the Giants. 7:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for an examination of the team's defense and just how much is being put on the plate of new coordinator Brian Flores. His resume suggests he's up to the task. 27:00: Another successful debut for Minnesota Aurora.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the struggles of the Twins, Lynx and Loons on what was a rough Tuesday in Twin Cities sports. The Twins in particular have lost six of eight and are now just 25-24 -- still good for a lead in the American League Central but just the ninth-best record overall in the American League. 7:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a deeper look at where Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has succeeded and where he needs to improve. This is an important year coming up for the Wolves coach, which was brought into focus not only by the Wolves' season but the high-profile coaching changes in the league. Plus Scoggins and Rand note a lot of recent second-guessing of Rocco Baldelli and the NFL's decision to allow Thursday night games to be changed. 33:00: Three high-profile Vikings players are not at voluntary workouts.

Michael Rand is joined by Bally Sports North host and play-by-play voice Marney Gellner for a wide-ranging interview touching on a number of subjects. Gellner, who revealed earlier this year that she had breast cancer but is now cancer-free, talked about the struggle of dealing with that diagnosis and the good that she tried to create from it in her own life and for others. She also talked about her childhood dream of being a star on "Saturday Night Live," her North Dakota roots and her best memories of 20 years in the Twin Cities. 31:00: Rand finished the show with a look at a curious bit of strategy in the Twins' 4-1 loss to the Giants and three Timberwolves connections to the Nuggets' four-game sweep of the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Among the main things they cover: *The Twins are struggling at the plate again and are now dealing with a potential injury to Byron Buxton. Can they maintain their lead in a weak AL Central? *Bud Grant's public memorial service on Sunday was the right kind of celebration. *The NBA playoffs continue to surprise us.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts by acknowledging that sometimes we try to make sports more complicated than they really are. What was wrong with the Lynx last season that caused them to miss the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade? Well, they were missing arguably their best player, Napheesa Collier, for almost the entire season. Now that she's back, will the narrative change in 2023? 7:00: Rand is joined by Vikings writer and podcaster Matthew Coller of Purple Insider. Coller recently completed a book about the football stats and data site Pro Football Focus called "Football is a Numbers Game," which tells the origin of PFF and how it has grown into being such an indispensable tool for teams and fans. 39:00: The Twins are suddenly stealing bases.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dissects a listener comment about the Twins' bullpen use during a 7-3 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday during which Emilio Pagan gave up a grand slam. Was it a question of strategy or a question of outcome? Plus the Twins came out of the game pretty banged up, while Minnesota United finally got well with a home victory. 9:00: Rand turns the spotlight on Gophers softball, which enters NCAA play on Friday. Minnesota has been in every NCAA tournament since 2013, and head coach Piper Ritter is a big reason why. She joins Rand for a discussion of her program, her path and her philosophy. 22:00: Jimmy Butler appreciation leads to an NBA Draft lottery rabbit hole. And now we know how much cap savings the Vikings are getting from the Za'Darius Smith trade.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has seen evidence for one-fourth of this season that the Twins have one of MLB's best starting rotations, and Tuesday's strong six innings from Bailey Ober in a 5-1 win over the Dodgers proved a good time to pause and recognize all that good work. The Twins lead the majors in innings pitched and strikeouts from starting pitchers -- a stark contrast to a year ago. 9:00: Star Tribune outdoors writer and editor Bob Timmons joins Rand for a look at his recent story on the state park registration system that has resulted in some unhappy Minnesota campers. And Timmons shares other details on enhanced mountain biking in the state and a touching tale he is in the process of reporting. 27:00: Former Wolves players aren't exactly thriving for the Lakers; the Spurs won the most anticipated draft lottery in 20 years.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand finds that the Twins might have dispatched an old nemesis by beating the Yankees in the season series this year, but they found two more on Monday. In losing their 11th consecutive game to the Dodgers, the Twins were undone by umpires in two key situations -- including some awful strike calls by the infamous Phil Cuzzi in a key situation. 6:00: Chris Hine joins Rand for a further dissection of Hine's recent interview with Wolves star Anthony Edwards. What are the offseason priorities for Ant? And how can the Wolves best support him? 28:00: A what-if for the Wolves and Wild; Za'Darius Smith was a good player here.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included a Target Field-record 29 runs for the Twins in their three-game series against the Cubs. An offense that was struggling is getting a big boost from Alex Kirilloff's return to health. Reusse and Rand also check in on the NBA playoffs, which included interesting second-round conclusions for the Knicks and 76ers. Also add another voice to the Rudy Gobert "worst trade of all time" chorus. The powerhouse Gophers softball team is in the NCAA tournament again. They've made it to 10 straight, excluding the COVID year of 2020. And Za'Darius Smith was right to put his house on the market, after all.

Host Michael Rand goes through all 17 games of the Vikings' schedule released Thursday and makes win-loss predictions for each one. Does he come to an optimistic conclusion? Where are the soft and strong parts of the schedule? 11:00: Rand is joined by Minnesota United defender Zarek Valentin. In his first year with the club, Valentin is providing stability and veteran leadership to a team that has already had its share of obstacles. Valentin also talks about his love of Philadelphia sports and the terrible renderings of him in the FIFA soccer games. 28:00: Carlos Correa had the big hit for the Twins on Thursday, and manager Rocco Baldelli thinks it could be the start of a hot streak.

Introduction: The Twins got a sorely needed 4-3, 11 inning win on Wednesday against the Padres. The offense stalled again, getting just two runs in the first nine innings, but starting pitcher Pablo Lopez was excellent and the Twins got clutch hits in the 10th an 11th innings. It was a further reminder of their identity shift this year. 5:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins and St. Paul Academy senior Tommy Verhey join Rand for a practical thought exercise. Rand, with the help of Verhey, put together a completely new Twins lineup comprised almost exclusively of players the Twins have traded in recent years. Plus they talk about recent Karl-Anthony Towns comments about the Rudy Gobert trade and examine Chip's column on sports gambling and college sports. 36:00: Not so fast on that new Phoenix Suns TV deal.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand noticed a lot of angst over Jaden McDaniels not being named to an All-NBA defensive team on Tuesday. Rand's thought: McDaniels is good, but his time will come. The bigger takeaway from the defensive voting is that Wolves center Rudy Gobert -- a first-team defensive player the last six years and a Defensive Player of the Year three years -- didn't get a single vote to be on this year's team. It underscores that he was far from being the player the Wolves thought they were getting in last summer's blockbuster trade. 8:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a three-part conversation: How long will it take Emanuel Reynoso to be back on the field for Minnesota United? Is it a good thing that Byron Buxton seems to be the long-term DH for the Twins? And how much longer will Dalvin Cook be on the Vikings? 28:00: The Twins' offense is still stuck, but the Loons broke out on Tuesday.