StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks ahead to the second half of the Twins season with five predictions. Will anyone significant be traded? How about some bullpen help? Which current players are poised for big second halves? And will the Twins win the AL Central? Rand tackles all those questions. 11:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand in advance of Neal's trip to Cooperstown this weekend for the Hall of Fame induction of Twins connections Tony Oliva, Jim Kaat and David Ortiz. Plus the big future question: Is Joe Mauer a Hall of Famer? 27:00: Kyler Murray got paid like Aaron Rodgers, but he shouldn't try to emulate Rodgers in one key area.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of an ESPN assessment of the strengths of each NFL team over the next three years. If the evaluations of the panel of league experts is accurate, there is trouble -- or at least mediocrity -- ahead for the Vikings. While the Packers finished tied for third and were deemed to be top-10 in every category, the Vikings were No. 19 overall and weren't higher than No. 17 in any single marker. That could signal a more honest roster evaluation is still to come depending on how 2022 goes. 13:00: Star Tribune golf writer Jerry Zgoda joins the show ahead of the 3M Open, which begins Thursday in Blaine. With a field impacted by the new LIV Golf tour, who will emerge as the champion? And do we know enough about the PGA Tour event, now in its fourth year, to determine if there is a style of play best suited for the course? 25:00: Rand has no time for the All-Star Game MVP "snub" of Byron Buxton nor the ESPYs ... plus the Loons demolish a Premier League team and Kyle Rudolph joins forces with Tom Brady.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Twins getting steamrolled while losing three of four games to the White Sox heading into the All-Star break. This is still a first-place team through 94 games, but Reusse has never been a believer and is even less of one now. Plus Rand and Reusse share thoughts on the MLB Draft, British Open and more.

Introduction: In a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand starts with the Twins' blowout loss to the White Sox. It's just one game, but with Sonny Gray pitching a dud and the offense sputtering it was a bad omen for an important series heading into the All-Star break. Plus Rand is joined by Twins prospect and Forest Lake native Matt Wallner, who was called up to St. Paul on Thursday after tearing things up at Class AA Wichita. 11:00: Former Wild goalie Cam Talbot met with the Ottawa media in the aftermath of being traded earlier this week. His message: Talbot didn't really want to be traded. But is that really the case? 15:00: The Lynx had a setback in their playoff push. But Minnesota Aurora is full speed ahead into Sunday's semifinals, and Rand caught up with forward Morgan Turner in advance of the game. 24:00: The Wolves added more depth with the signing of veteran Austin Rivers.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand welcomes in Twins beat writer Phil Miller for an extended look at Wednesday's big walk-off win over the Brewers, the upcoming series against the White Sox, Sunday's MLB draft and the trade deadline looming in a few weeks. 20:00: Minnesota native and Motocross legend Ryan Dungey joins the show. After retiring in 2017, Dungey has returned to action this year at age 32. He will compete on his home track in Millville, Minn., this weekend as he continues his comeback. 27:00: Minnesota United earned a draw with Sporting KC on Wednesday while Minnesota Aurora had a thrilling comeback playoff victory. 30:00: The Royals have a staggering number of unvaccinated players.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the Wild's trade of goalie Cam Talbot, just a few days after the team signed Marc-Andre Fleury to a two-year deal and created the potential for drama with their two veteran goalies. Was it the right hockey move? And how much drama would there have been? 9:00: The Twins lost to the Brewers and Miguel Sano, the forgotten man, returned on a rehab assignment to St. Paul. 12:00: Star Tribune outdoors writer Bob Timmons joins Rand for a preview of his excellent upcoming Sunday story about "bikepacking" on gravel trails in Minnesota. 26:00: The Lynx stayed hot, winning one game seemingly three different times.

Introduction: The Twins are trudging into the All-Star break, but they can't afford a letdown even after a grueling first-half pace. They have six important games against the Brewers and White Sox starting Tuesday, and the results could set the tone for the second half and trade deadline. 7:00: Star Tribune college basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins host Michael Rand for a look at how the college sports transfer portal is impacting high school recruits. With some colleges looking at more experienced players in the portal, it is harder for younger players to get noticed. 26:00: We learned the official cause of death of Marion Barber III ... plus can the Lynx make a post-break playoff push?

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Twins salvaged a game against Texas, and it seems like no matter what they do they manage to maintain a reasonable lead in the weak American League Central. Plus they learned that Luis Arraez and Byron Buxton are All-Stars. Reusse weighs in on the team's biggest pitching need as the trade deadline approaches. Plus a look at NBA Summer League and the Wild's messy offseason.

Introduction: On what was a joyous on positive day on a couple fronts for the Wild, after making two first-round picks and signing goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, there is still a sense that there will be a cloud over the team as long as the Kirill Kaprizov situation in Russia remains unresolved. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's non-committal remarks didn't help. 7:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins the show to help sort through last week's seismic shift in college conferences with USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten. What does it mean for the big picture, and were are we going from here? 28:00: The Twins schedule will get harder before it gets easier again.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of several key developments from the Rudy Gobert introductory news conference on Wednesday, including how he projects to fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. The two players should complement each other, as long as Chris Finch can work his magic. 10:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to talk about the Kevin Fiala trade and the NHL draft, while Rand weighs in on the troubling Kirill Kaprizov story that emerged. 27:00: The Twins let one get away, while the Lynx are surging into the break.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the suddenly surging Twins, who demolished the White Sox 8-2 on Tuesday and now lead the AL Central again by 4.5 games over Cleveland and 6.5 games over Chicago. Almost all the correspondence from fans is negative, and yet this team keeps winning. 9:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins the show to talk in more depth about last week's Rudy Gobert blockbuster trade and what it means for the Wolves. 27:00: Kevin Fiala discusses his trade to the Kings, plus Chet Holmgren has a monster NBA Summer League debut.

After a VERY eventful week away, host Michael Rand plays catch-up on all the big Minnesota sports news with Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse. Topics of discussion include: *The Twins continuing to win (and frustrate) Reusse even after losing pitching coach Wes Johnson to LSU in the middle of the season. *The blockbuster Timberwolves acquisition of Rudy Gobert and what it means. *Big Ten expansion to the West Coast.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand, with the help of Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine, takes an in-depth look at Thursday's NBA Draft. Did the Wolves and new personnel boss Tim Connelly, after a lot of wheeling and dealing, end up in a good spot with No. 22 pick Walker Kessler and No. 26 pick Wendell Moore? Time will tell, but they certainly addressed a need with Kessler's size and rebounding ability. 15:00: The Twins avoided a bullpen meltdown, albeit narrowly, in an important win over Cleveland. One day after the teams combined for 21 runs in a crushing Twins loss, Minnesota scored the only run in a 1-0 win. 20:00: The Lynx might be on the upswing again, while Loons fans are mad about the Adrian Heath contract extension. Plus putting a bow on the NBA and looking ahead to D'Angelo Russell and free agency for the Wolves.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand gives some of his own thoughts on the impact of Title IX, the sweeping anti-discrimination legislation signed into law 50 years ago today. You'll also hear excellent perspectives from three highly successful women athletes: Paralympian Mallory Weggemann, hockey legend Natalie Darwitz and Olympic gold medal skier Jessie Diggins. 21:00: The Twins fell out of first place with a gut-punch loss to Cleveland, losing two big leads and allowing a four-run ninth inning in an 11-10 loss. Manager Rocco Baldelli called it "unsatisfying," which is a supreme understatement. 25:00: The NBA Draft is finally upon us Thursday. What will the Wolves do with the No. 19 pick? You'll hear from personnel boss Tim Connelly as he provides insights into the process.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes no pleasure in reporting that the Twins have relinquished sole possession of first place in the American League Central for the first time in almost two months. They took over that top spot on April 24, but on Tuesday a late Cleveland rally for a 6-5 win in 11 innings pushed the Guardians into a tie with Minnesota atop the division standings. 7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins the show to express just how much he wants the Timberwolves to find a way to draft Duke center Mark Williams. Plus Rand and Neal debate the idea of which Minnesota athlete will be most loved by fans over the next 10 years. 32:00: A tough break for the Gophers men's basketball team and a much-needed win for the Lynx.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand is ready to get a better idea of how the AL Central stacks up when the Twins begin a series against Cleveland on Tuesday. The Guardians have made up 6.5 games in the last three weeks and trail Minnesota by just one game. These teams will play eight times before the All-Star break in a month, while the Twins and White Sox will play seven times. 5:00: A look at some interesting comments from new Wolves boss Tim Connelly that -- combined with success Denver had when he was there -- could mean some time at power forward for Karl-Anthony Towns in the future. 13:00: U.S. soccer legend Cobi Jones joins the show to promote the Major League Soccer All-Star Game at Allianz Field in August and to provide perspective on the past and future of soccer. He also answers several listener questions. 27:00: Never count out a champion.

Introduction: If you came here to get hard-hitting analysis of the Twins' upcoming series against Cleveland and the excellent final round of the U.S. Open, host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse provide that. But if you also came for a digression into the good old days of pro indoor soccer and a word that Reusse is trying to work back into circulation, they have you covered there, too.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes a recent ESPN article that suggests the White Sox are more likely to add players at the trade deadline than the Twins, even though the Twins are atop the AL Central at the moment. The sentiment makes some sense, but anyone who looks at the Twins' roster can see there are pieces they could add. 9:00: Star Tribune women's basketball writer Kent Youngblood joins the show to offer his perspectives on all the things that have gone wrong for the 3-12 Lynx this season. Plus he looks ahead to an optimistic season for Gophers women's basketball, which started summer workouts this week with four talented Minnesota freshman on the court. 26:00: Golden State took home another NBA title and the World Cup sites in 2026 were revealed.

Introduction: Twins pitcher Sonny Gray returned from injury and looked he hadn't missed a step, throwing five shutout innings in a 5-0 Twins win over Seattle. The Twins did well to maintain their first place standing in the AL Central while Gray and other key pitchers were out, but now that they are getting healthy it might be time to do some real damage. 7:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins host Michael Rand for a look ahead to the NBA Draft, which is one week from today. Who will the Wolves target at No. 19? What will they do with their three second-round picks? How will things be run differently now that Tim Connelly is in charge? 28:00: The NHL Finals caught up to the NBA Finals, giving you some great viewing options.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the new agreement between Major League Soccer and Apple TV, which reportedly will pay the league a minimum of $250 million starting next year to stream all games to all markets. If we like to think of streaming and fragmenting as the future of sports on TV, that future is arriving quickly. This deal is an acceleration of that pace. 5:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins the show to talk about his interesting column on Jackson Carver, a former prep lacrosse standout who played one year of football and suddenly was inundated with college offers. Plus Rand and Scoggins get into the high level of play from former Wolves wing Andrew Wiggins in this year's NBA Finals. 27:00: The first-place Twins have been shut out more than any team in the majors this season, a total that grew with a 5-0 loss on Tuesday. ... And the Lynx fell to 3-12. Should our attention turn to the 2023 WNBA Draft and Paige Bueckers?

Introduction: The two biggest fair criticisms of Andrew Wiggins when he was with the Timberwolves were his inconsistency and his tendency to shrink from big moments. But he is having a terrific NBA Finals for Golden State, including a 26-point, 13-rebound performance in Monday's critical Game 5 win that put the Warriors one game away from another championship. 6:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins the show with some insights into the first-place Twins and how they keep winning. He pointed to the series win over Toronto -- which had the potential to turn particularly bad with several unvaccinated players missing -- as a big key to their season so far, and he had good news for fans regarding two of the Twins' best pitchers. 28:00: Ryan Saunders is heading back to the NBA, reportedly as a Denver assistant.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the Twins' 5-4 stretch against top AL East teams, which was fueled by a strong offensive showing against some of MLB's top starting pitchers. After predicting the Twins would not win a game during the nine-game stretch, Reusse is happy to admit he was wrong -- though you will be shocked to learn that he still has some gripes about the process. Plus Reusse and Rand get into the flat-out bad Lynx, golf's interesting weekend and a rare state baseball tournament appearance for St. Louis Park.

Introduction: Just when you thought it was safe to think the Twins might beat the Yankees -- OK, let's be honest, nobody probably thought that, even with a 7-3 lead -- things fall apart. Even after battering ace Gerrit Cole for five home runs, continuing a trend of knocking out Yankees pitchers, the Twins lost 10-7 Thursday and lost the series two games to one. Manager Rocco Baldelli was inclined to look at the positives, but the end result was more of the same. 12:00: Star Tribune Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show to talk about a huge weekend of recruiting for coach P.J. Fleck and the program. 20:00: A curious decision by White Sox manager Tony La Russa -- at least to a lot of us, though not to him -- backfired in yet another Chicago loss.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand spent a lot of time fixated on the Twins' sad two-decade history against the Yankees on Wednesday's show, so it's only fair to lead off with Minnesota's 8-1 win Wednesday, which was the first time all year New York has trailed by six or more runs. The Twins are now 3-2 in their tough nine-game stretch and have a chance to win the series Thursday. Plus Rand champions the return of Willians Astudillo to the spotlight and thinks the Angels got what they deserved with Nickelback. 12:00: Star Tribune golf writer Jerry Zgoda joins the show to talk about new Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour, which begins play Thursday in London. Several notable golfers, including Phil Mickelson, have signed up for big paydays. But is it worth it? 24:00: Draymond Green's podcast was a big talker after Golden State's Game 3 loss to Boston, but Steph Curry's injury is bigger news; Cooper Kupp's big extension could foreshadow Justin Jefferson's next deal.

Introduction: The Twins became competitive in the early 2000s after a decade of misery and have played beyond the regularly scheduled season in half of the 20 years from 2002-2021. But that hasn't stopped them from being absolutely dominated by the Yankees, a trend that continued Tuesday at Target Field in a 10-4 loss. Minnesota is now 38-110 against the Yankees -- including 2-16 in the playoffs -- since the start of the 2002 season, an almost unfathomable run of .257 baseball against one team. 8:00: Gophers basketball coaches Lindsay Whalen and Ben Johnson join host Michael Rand for a look at the seasons ahead and trying to stay afloat in recruiting during the transfer portal era. Whalen notes that it's tough keeping up because she has to recruit the portal, re-recruit her own players and bring in high school talent, all while assessing her current team. But it's the way of the sport in 2022. Both coaches are gearing up for the start of summer workouts next week with an influx of new talent. 23:00: The Lynx fell to 3-9 and caused Rand to invoke the name David Kahn. Plus some thoughts on Andrew Wiggins and the NBA Finals.

Introduction: It's been a mixed bag over the last two weeks for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The Avalanche are on a major upswing, having swept Edmonton to secure a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. But the Nuggets, another Denver team owned by the group, lost executive Tim Connelly to the Timberwolves. And that led vice chairman Josh Kroenke to ramp up the rhetoric in a recent media session, calling the Wolves "desperate" for how they pursued Connelly. Is there a budding rivalry with the two Western Conference teams, host Michael Rand wonders. 12:00: Gophers Athletic Director Mark Coyle joins the show to talk about his philosophy for hiring coaches, the plan for the department as it hopefully emerges from the COVID era and the daily impact of name, image and likeness on all schools. Plus he deftly dodges one final question about athletic facilities. 24:00: Rand takes note of the Twins' success against Toronto pitcher Kevin Gausman on Sunday, which prompted an examination of whether Minnesota batters had detected something in his delivery.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Twins taking two of three from Toronto after coming into the series ice-cold while the Blue Jays were red-hot. Part of what sparked the Twins was the continued production of Luis Arraez, who had four hits Sunday and is hitting .358 on the season. Plus thoughts on Rafael Nadal, yelling at Vikings kickers and the NBA Finals.

Introduction: The Twins head to Toronto in free-fall mode after losing seven of their last 10 against bottom-feeders Detroit and Kansas City. Will they get enough key players back -- and simply start playing/hitting better -- to compete with Toronto, New York and Tampa Bay in the next couple weeks? Or is this the start of a plummet out of first place? 6:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins host Michael Rand for an extended look at the Twins and the prospect of a new Timberwolves arena on the horizon. We're already overbuilt. Can we really do this again? La Velle says we might have to given the ambitions of the Wolves' new owners. 24:00: The Celtics blitzed the Warriors with a 40-16 fourth quarter in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, while Rand takes issue with All-NBA processes.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the latest punchless Twins effort -- two hits, no runs in a second consecutive shutout loss to the Tigers -- and notes that there is some urgency in Thursday's series finale against Detroit. A loss Thursday leading into a tough nine-game stretch could send the Twins into a spiral with so many key players out. 5:00: But as rough as things have been lately, the Twins are still in first place. And they have to be elated with their offseason trade of Josh Donaldson to the Yankees. Not only did Minnesota get two productive players -- Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela -- in return, but more importantly the Twins shed themselves of Donaldson's baggage. He proved again with comments Wednesday about the Tim Anderson "Jackie Robinson" situation that he still doesn't get it. 9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins the show to talk about Vikings offseason observations of note, including more autonomy for QB Kirk Cousins. 25:00: The tragic death of former Wayzata and Gophers great Marion Barber III.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand explores three paths the Wolves could go down this offseason as they look to improve on last year's 46-win team. Will they run it back? Will new President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly look to reshape the core of the team by trading D'Angelo Russell? Or is blowing up the roster something to consider? 10:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand to dissect three key things Connelly said during his introductory news conference on Tuesday, which illuminated how Connelly thinks of the Wolves' roster and how he might approach this job. 24:00: The Twins are 3-5 in their last eight games, a rough end to a very good month ... Dustin Johnson had a golf surprise ... and a must-read Patrick Reusse column.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse who -- you might not believe this -- is not optimistic about how the Twins are doing even though they are in first place. He sees a June swoon coming as their pitching comes back down to earth, players miss time for various reasons and the schedule gets tougher. Plus Rand and Reusse talk through the Wolves' offseason to-do list for new President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly, who will be introduced to the media on Tuesday. And they set up the NBA Finals, which begin this week.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand laments the Twins' missed chances in a bad 3-2 loss to the Royals on Thursday and takes note of how during their hot streak the Twins went 14-2 in games decided by one run or two runs. They have dropped two close games since then, and that might happen more as the year goes on. The Twins will hope that Byron Buxton is due for a progression, not more regression, after finally snapping his 0-for-30 skid. 10:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins the show to talk about the significance of hiring Tim Connelly as the new President of Basketball Operations and all the big decisions ahead for Connelly this offseason. 26:00: Three big decisions in this market ... Aurora soccer starts with a tie ... Golden State is back in the NBA Finals.

Introduction: Minnesota United lost 2-1 at home in a U.S. Open Cup match to third division Union Omaha on Wednesday, a defeat Loons manager Adrian Heath called "embarrassing." It was another inconsistent performance from United this season, and it probably won't lead to more playing time for the Loons reserves who had a chance to play. 6:00: Minnesota Aurora President and co-founder Andrea Yoch joins the show to talk about the debut of the women's soccer club Thursday at TCO Performance Center in Eagan. The amateur club has sold out all 5,600 tickets for its debut, part of what Yoch terms a "magic carpet ride" or support so far. 20:00: Byron Buxton went hitless again on Wednesday, and it's time to wonder if his balky knee is at least partly to blame for his 0-for-26 slump. Plus a throwback NBA playoff game and a huge NHL comeback.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand can't help but notice that Byron Buxton is 1 for his last 24, with the slump coinciding with the Twins disclosing a little over a week ago their plan to rest him so he stays healthy enough to play 100 games this season. Buxton's batting average is all the way down to .211. But the Twins have continued to win even without Buxton contributing at the plate, in large part because of pitching outings like the one they got from Sonny Gray (seven innings, zero runs) on Tuesday. 9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins the show with observations from watching the new-look Vikings in their early offseason work. The defensive changes stand out, but so does the offensive philosophy -- including a big change that might take some pressure off Kirk Cousins. 26:00: The Warriors are on pace for a gentlemen's sweep of the Mavericks, while the Lynx got a big comeback win.

Introduction: The Timberwolves hired executive Tim Connelly away from Denver to be their President of Basketball Operations for a reported 5 years and $40 million plus an ownership stake in the team. It's a big-time move, but it's not without risk. While Connelly has a track record of building a team primarily through the draft, the Nuggets haven't even played for a championship let alone won a title in recent years. 8:00: The Star Tribune's Jeff Day joins host Michael Rand for an examination of his story on the inner workings of the Gophers volleyball program. 32:00: The Twins won again, and the vibe in the clubhouse is positively giddy.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included two stunning comebacks on Sunday: the Twins rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the eighth inning to defeat Kansas City 7-6, while Justin Thomas started the day seven shots off the lead but came back to win the PGA Championship in a playoff. Reusse still doesn't trust the Twins pitching, but he has to concede this is a pretty good team after a 25-16 start. Plus a look at the struggles of the Gophers baseball team, which finished 16-36 this season, and the surge of Andrew Wiggins in the playoffs for Golden State.

Bud Grant, the legendary Vikings coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer, turned 95 on Friday and was a very special guest on today's show. Host Michael Rand and Bud talk about the interesting progression of aging, the joy of living a good, long life, Grant's path into coaching and how he copes with surviving a near-death experience when he was 29. Plus Rand's thoughts on the Lynx, Vikings and the Nick Saban vs. Jimbo Fisher feud at the end of the show.

Introduction: We've spent the last few days debating two big decisions by the Twins: Limiting Byron Buxton's workload to 100 (or a few more) games this season and sending promising rookie shortstop Royce Lewis back to the minors. While these are good fodder for discussion, we also shouldn't let those narratives overtake the whole conversation. This is a first-place team on pace to win 94 games. 8:00: Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins the show to help break down an interesting offseason for the Wild. Is there any chance of keeping Kevin Fiala? Is Marc-Andre Fleury really an option in goal next season? And how can the team hope to improve its special teams considering it doesn't have much payroll flexibility? 26:00: Minnesota United equalized late to salvage a tie against the LA Galaxy, but problems finishing chances persisted ... the Wolves might have a change at the top of their organizational structure.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the NBA Draft lottery, normally a major event for Wolves fans, passed without as much as a whisper on Tuesday because Minnesota was a rare non-participant. Orlando ended up with the No. 1 pick, which could mean Chet Holmgren is reunited with former Minnehaha Academy teammate Jalen Suggs. 6:00: Star Tribune writer Jerry Zgoda joins the show to help break down Minnesota United's struggles to finish chances this season, part of the reason the Loons sit No. 10 in the Western Conference standings heading into an important home match on Wednesday. 18:00: The Lynx broke through with a big win over Los Angeles after an 0-4 start. Will they have a similar turnaround as they did last year? ... Bill Guerin says the Wild has a plan to deal with the impact of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts, but that plan might include re-signing goalie Marc-Andre Fleury? ... And Kellen Mond, the forgotten man, talks about his progress.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand catches up on the Vikings' schedule, which was released late last week in the midst of the Wild's playoff series against the Blues, and gives his thoughts on story lines and predictions for each game. Rand sees reason for optimism, but the Vikings had better take advantage of favorable stretches in their 17-game season. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins the show to offer his take on Byron Buxton and the Twins' 100-game plan. He sees the wisdom in it, and he also has more optimism for the 0-4 Lynx than their record might indicate. 28:00: The best high school football recruit in Minnesota has the Gophers on his final list of schools.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand after Sunday's revelation that the Twins have a plan to limit Byron Buxton's playing time in hopes of preserving his health. The magic number is getting him in at least 100 games, which would be more than Buxton has typically played but far fewer than fans might want. Reusse, as you might expect, is not a fan of the plan. Plus a deeper look at Minnesota sports playoff misery and musing on the NBA playoffs and the Game 7 no-show by Phoenix on Sunday.

Introduction: Different team, different expectations, same playoff results. That's the story of the Wild, which lost Game 6 to St. Louis 5-1 and dropped the series 4 games to 2. The Blues scored nine of the last 10 goals in the series. They had eight power play goals to just four for the Wild. And the Wild is now 32-58 all-time in postseason games. Those are sobering numbers for the organization to wake up to this morning as it tries to chart a path forward that includes a clogged up salary cap from the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts. 8:00: ESPN's Malika Andrews joins the show to talk Timberwolves and hoops in general. The host of NBA Today had plenty of thoughts on Anthony Edwards and the Wolves' path forward while also dispensing some great career advice. 33:00: Trouble for the Lynx, a marquee Vikings opener and the one bit of good news from Thursday courtesy of Minnesota United.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand puts together a checklist for the Wild heading into a must-win Game 6 against the Blues on Thursday night. At the top of that list: Someone aside from Kirill Kaprizov stepping up and scoring some goals and a goalie -- whether it's Marc-Andre Fleury or Cam Talbot -- making the sorts of saves that can steal a game. Otherwise, it's going to be a disappointing result and frankly a very disappointing end to the season. 10:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Kent Youngblood joins the show to take a look at the team's 0-3 start and the reasons behind it. 26:00: A Terry Tiffee Twins T-shirt jersey spotted in the wild and an NFL QB who only eats chicken.

Introduction: Kirill Kaprizov had two more goals, giving him seven in just five playoff games. But the Wild still finds itself in a 3-2 hole after dropping Tuesday's Game 5 at home 5-2 to St. Louis. Sloppy play in the third period, preceded by a deflating goal late in the second, was the Wild's undoing. Now it faces elimination Thursday in St. Louis. Will anyone step up and join Kaprizov? And should coach Dean Evason consider a switch to Cam Talbot after an average performance from Marc-Andre Fleury? 12:00: Star Tribune high school sports reporter David La Vaque joins host Michael Rand for a discussion on the sophistication of football recruiting as well as some top lineman prospects in the state. Plus high school boys' volleyball came within a vote of gaining varsity status. 27:00: The Twins were no match for the stellar Astros on Tuesday. The Lynx were no match for the rebuilding Indiana Fever. We learned a lot about both teams.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks ahead to Tuesday's critical Game 5 between the Wild and Blues and finds himself wanting a lot more from Kevin Fiala. After registering just a goal and an assist in seven playoff games last year, Fiala has just one assist through four games against St. Louis. Whether he can get it going will tell the story of how far the Wild ultimately goes in this postseason and could determine his long-term future with the team. 5:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins the show to try to answer a big mystery: Are the first-place Twins, owners of an 18-11 record after a 14-3 burst, for real? Or will they fall back below the pack as the season goes on? Miller sees pitching as a reason for optimism, even if Emilio Pagan can't keep escaping the way he does. 25:00: The tragic death of former Wolves player Adreian Payne, the Grizzlies getting a taste of their own medicine and more good recruiting news for Ben Johnson.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Wild splitting Games 3 and 4 in St. Louis to set up a critical Game 5 back at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday. Based on the players the Blues are missing, this should be the Wild's series to take, Reusse said, even after missing an opportunity in Game 4. Plus Reusse wants to see the Twins play better against good teams before getting too excited -- and he has seen all he cares to see of reliever Emilio Pagan. Rich Strike's amazing Kentucky Derby run did come with one worry, while the Lynx look like they need a lot of help after an 0-2 start.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand previews the Lynx season, which starts with a big test Friday in Seattle. Can a largely veteran roster extend the Lynx's streak to 12 straight postseason appearances and compete for a championship, or will a roster squeeze and health concerns derail the season? Head coach and GM Cheryl Reeve weighs in on the challenges of building a team in this era of the WNBA. 9:00: Adversity has hit the Twins, who lost star shortstop Carlos Correa to an apparent broken finger and lost for the second consecutive night to Baltimore -- the same day they learned manager Rocco Baldelli and two players are out with COVID. Will we get a look at 2017 No. 1 pick Royce Lewis in Correa's absence? 12:00: The Star Tribune's Rachel Blount joins the show to preview Saturday's Kentucky Derby, which features not one but two Minnesota horses in the field. 26:00: Keys to Game 3 for the Wild plus a curious decision by the Wolves to part ways with play-by-play voice Dave Benz.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the overwhelmingly positive 6-2 final result for the Wild on Wednesday as it evened its playoff series against St. Louis at 1-1. Kirill Kaprizov had a hat trick, Marc-Andre Fleury showed why he is a battle-tested future Hall of Famer and the team in general cashed in on chances. But St. Louis also had more shots, more hits and arguably the better of the play. And the Wild still gave up five power plays (and one goal on the man advantage). Minnesota will need to tighten up its game going forward even after this result. 9:00: Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair joins the show to talk about his early-season success, his Canada pride and his surprising skill outside of soccer. 22:00: Would you pay $20 a month for Bally Sports North? That will be an option soon for standalone customers. Plus the secret Vikings edge this season and another rough start from Twins pitcher Dylan Bundy.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand tries to make sure the Twins get some proper attention after they won for the 11th time in 12 games Tuesday. Ryan Jeffers was the offensive hero in the win over Baltimore with a three-run homer. The Twins are now 15-9 and four games ahead of any other team in the American League Central. 5:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand in the aftermath of the Wild's 4-0 loss to St. Louis in Game 1 of their playoff series Monday. It was all-too-familiar based on past Wild teams; can Minnesota stay out of the penalty box and even the series Wednesday? Plus Scoggins weighs in on the Wolves' D'Angelo Russell conundrum and hopes for a trade. 26:00: Jared Spurgeon was lucky to avoid a suspension, the Lynx made some interesting roster moves and the Grizzlies/Warriors series looks every bit as compelling as Grizzlies/Wolves was.

Host Michael Rand goes in deep on the Wild after Monday's damaging 4-0 loss to St. Louis in Game 1 of the playoffs. Home ice advantage? Gone. Stupid penalties leading to the type of game the Blues wanted and directly leading to three of the four goals? Yes. Second-guessing of the goalie choice? Sure, but that wasn't the reason the Wild lost. It's going to be a day of soul-searching for Minnesota, as St. Louis is now 4-0 this year and 13-1-1 in its last 15 against the favored Wild. Plus the Twins won for the 10th time in 11 games and a Minnesota horse is the Kentucky Derby favorite.