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Patrick Reusse on the surging Twins, Gophers baseball, Andrew Wiggins and the PGA May 23, 2022

Show notes

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.

A conversation with Vikings legend Bud Grant on his 95th birthday May 20, 2022

Show notes

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.

A lot of complaining about first-place Twins; Sarah McLellan on the Wild's important offseason May 19, 2022

Show notes

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.

Red-hot Royce Lewis demoted; Kellen Mond speaks; Can the Loons score?; Lynx break through May 18, 2022

Show notes

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.

Jim Souhan's take on Byron Buxton; Predicting every game of the Vikings' season May 17, 2022

Show notes

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.

Patrick Reusse rips the Byron Buxton 100 game plan and expands on Minnesota playoff misery May 16, 2022

Show notes

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.

Wild goes out with a whimper (again); ESPN's Malika Andrews on Wolves, NBA; Concerns for Twins, Lynx May 13, 2022

Show notes

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.

Wild's Game 6 checklist; Kent Youngblood on the Lynx; A Terry Tiffee Twins jersey in the wild May 12, 2022

Show notes

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.

Wild needs to help Kaprizov -- and maybe switch goalies; Minnesota high school football recruiting May 11, 2022

Show notes

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.

Are the first-place Twins for real? Plus Kevin Fiala holds the key for any Wild playoff run May 10, 2022

Show notes

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.

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