Introduction: After spending part of Thursday at the opening of Wild training camp, host Michael Rand has some thoughts on the complicated Kirill Kaprizov contract situation. 14:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment. They disagree fundamentally on the question of whether Carson Wentz gives the Vikings a better chance to win Sunday than J.J. McCarthy would have if he was healthy. Plus questions about Kaprizov and the Lynx. 34:00: Tush push drama and the WNBA playoffs have been great.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Lynx, who staged an epic comeback to win Game 2 and the series against Golden State on Wednesday. Theirs was the only WNBA quarterfinal series to end in a sweep, and they remain a source of hope of Minnesota fans. 10:00: Star Tribune Wild writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand to dissect the team ahead of the start of training camp today. Kirill Kaprizov still hasn't signed. What's the latest on him and the rest of the Wild? 30:00: The Vikings' injury report reads like a short novel, the Twins lost to the Yankees and the Loons experienced heartbreak.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Vikings, who have seen injuries already pile up after a relatively healthy 2024 season. Can they overcome early adversity? Plus some good injury news for the Lynx and an update on the Wolves' pursuit of a new arena. 15:00: Randy Johnson on Gophers football after Saturday's loss to Cal. What can they work on during their bye week to get ready for Rutgers? 27:00: The Twins scored nine runs and lost; the Loons are hoping for a big crowd tonight.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the news of J.J. McCarthy's sprained ankle from all angles. Yes there is obvious downside to him missing time in that he is the starting QB for a reason and he needs on-field development time. But there is upside to the timing in that he has struggled with game speed so far and the Vikings are banged up on their offensive line right now. 14:00: It's a Vikings-heavy show, with Andrew Krammer joining for the film review from Sunday's 22-6 loss to the Falcons. 33:00: Vikings poetry in its purest form. 48:00: An update from the Wild and a Twins win over the Yankees.
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, an episode that naturally begins with the Vikings' 22-6 loss to the Falcons. Minnesota was dominated from start to finish, and an offense led by second-year QB J.J. McCarthy has a lot of work to do. Plus the Lynx rolled in Game 1 of the playoffs, the Gophers football team had its own disappointing loss and the Twins get a token mention at the end.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Lynx, who ended a dominant regular season in near-perfect fashion. The beat Golden State by 19 to set up a playoff rematch after going 4-0 vs. the Valkyries this year. Napheesa Collier hit a statistical milestone that should cement her MVP case. 9:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins for the weekly debate segment, focusing on the Kirill Kaprizov contract situation and the QB pecking order among 2024 NFL draft picks. 27:00: Green Bay looks good; get ready to stay up late for football.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a report Wednesday that Kirill Kaprizov turned down an eight-year, $128 million contract extension offer from the Wild that would have been the richest deal in NHL history. How much of that is just negotiations, and where does this leave the Wild and their franchise player? 10:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a review of the film from Monday's 27-24 win over the Bears. How did the Bears stop J.J. McCarthy early, how did he adjust, and what should we think about the Vikings' defense? 33:00: An interestingly big game for the Lynx tonight.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a reminder that the Twins have a loaded farm system, at least according to minor league rankings. Their best prospect, outfielder Walker Jenkins, is already at Class AAA St. Paul at age 20 and spoke to reporters on Tuesday. The Twins and Lynx lost, but we don't need to worry about that for different reasons. 8:00: Randy Johnson joins to talk Gophers football ahead of the schedule stiffening with a trip to Cal. 22:00: Award-winning Vikings poetry is back. 36:00: How to feel about J.J. McCarthy and a big stretch for Minnesota United.
Introduction: After spending most of Monday night's postgame podcast talking about J.J. McCarthy and his ability to lead the Vikings back to a 27-24 win, host Michael Rand tries to get into a lot of non-QB topics at the start of Tuesday's show. Among them: injury concerns, special team standouts and Jordan Mason's ability. 15:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller joins Rand to discuss his recent interview with pitcher Joe Ryan, who lamented that the Twins didn't re-sign Sonny Gray two offseasons ago. How did the conversation come about, and what does it say about the future of Ryan and the Twins? 31:00: J.J. McCarthy had a happy homecoming, and so did Royce Lewis.
Host Michael Rand breaks down the Vikings' 27-24 win over the Bears immediately after the game Monday night.
Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand for a deep preview of the Vikings' opener Monday night against the Bears. What will the Vikings defense do without Harrison Smith? Should we expect more from the run game? How will J.J. McCarthy look? And how has McCarthy's life prepared him for this moment? 33:00: Sam Pepper, executive producer of the "ManningCast," joins Rand to talk about what goes into the alternate Monday night broadcast. Plus a special guest on Monday's opener, Randy Moss, that you won't want to miss.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand went to bed with the Twins up 7-4 after six innings Thursday night and had one thought: I wonder how they are going to blow this one? Turns out a variety of factors led to their demise again in an 11-8 loss. Plus the Lynx lost to the Aces, who are the hottest team in the WNBA right now. 10:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand to talk Vikings and Gophers football. In focus: The three players on offense and defense who mean the most to the Vikings, and the increase in talent with the Gophers. 36:00: The NFL season has begun.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with another Twins bullpen meltdown, which has told a lot of the story of their post-deadline swoon. Guess that is what happens when you trade away your five best relief pitchers. 7:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a Vikings and NFL focused debate segment. What are the biggest reasons to be optimistic and pessimistic about the Vikings? 30:00: J.J. McCarthy and the odds.
Host Michael Rand starts with a bleak night during a bleak stretch for the Twins. They had a pitifully small crowd at Target Field. The woeful White Sox drubbed them 12-3. David Festa was shut down for the year. And 90 losses grows more likely every day. 10:00: Are the Vikings headed for a regression? 15:00: Randy Johnson on Gophers football. 29:00: A big-time recruit for Gophers women's basketball.
Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the long weekend in sports. As we wait unnecessarily one more week for a Vikings game, at least we have Bill Belichick to laugh at. Plus the Twins bullpen predictably loses another game and the Gophers are getting ready for their second game.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two big opening night college football wins. The Gophers handled Buffalo 23-10, with QB Drake Lindsey looking the part. And St. Thomas won 35-13 over a team to which it lost 64-0 a year ago. Plus a blockbuster NFL trade involving the Packers. 15:00: Strib Varsity's Joe Christensen joins Rand to talk more about his recent story on Moorhead athletics. 26:00: The Lynx let one get away.
Introduction: It's been a heavy last couple of days, and it still feels a little weird to talk about sports. 4:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins host Michael Rand for the Daily Delivery debate. In focus: the Adam Thielen trade, Twins in a cornfield and expectations for the Gophers football team. 23:00: What might be next for the Vikings, the Twins' starting pitching has been bad lately and are the Lynx getting a playoff preview in their game tonight?
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with breaking news Wednesday morning that the Vikings have acquired Adam Thielen from the Panthers. It's a reunion for the two sides. Thielen figures to add experience and dependability to a team that needed it. 7:00: Three Lynx players joined Rand out at the Minnesota State Fair, and a good time was had by all. 19:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand to break down the Gophers football season. 33:00: The Twins won in dramatic fashion, with Mickey Gasper as one of the unlikely heroes.
Ben Goessling joined Michael Rand on Tuesday shorty before 3 p.m., and they took a bunch of listener questions and then talked through Vikings roster cuts when they were announced.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who were blown out again while Joe Ryan struggled again. It has to be hard to get up for games down the stretch of a lost season. With the way the Twins are playing, though, should we expect more of the same next year? 7:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a breakdown of the Vikings' quarterback reshuffling and a look ahead to moves they will make to get their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday. 28:00: One position has been solved: punter.