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Patrick Reusse on the Twins' pause, Wolves woes and Gophers volleyball Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

A busy weekend in local sports became considerably lighter, unfortunately, when the Twins went into a COVID pause after three players tested positive. Patrick Reusse and Michael Rand talk about that and the fact that before this pause -- which has postponed three games so far -- the Twins weren't playing all that well. A chief culprit in their woes: The decisionmaking of manager Rocco Baldelli, who did not have a great start to the season.

Reusse and Rand also marvel at the Wolves' lack of a two-game winning streak since the start of the year and the Gophers women's volleyball team's loss to Pittsburgh in the NCAA Sweet 16.

At the start of the show, Rand gives Zach Parise -- a player he thought the Wild should trade -- his due. And a hot take from a listener: Should the Wolves move because there are too many teams in town?

The sale of the Timberwolves: Are they staying or moving? Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Michael Rand for a long discussion of the impending sale of the team to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore and what that means for the long-term future of the franchise. Fans are worried that the non-local ownership group will want to move the franchise to a different city. While those concerns are valid, there are roadblocks to prevent that from happening -- most notably that the NBA seems interested in keeping a franchise in Minnesota and expanding to other markets like Seattle and Las Vegas instead of relocating.

Hine and Rand also discuss the collective trauma of this season on the Wolves and evaluate some on-court developments as well.

At the start of the show, Rand expresses his SHOCK that a Twins pitcher was allowed to throw seven full innings and notes that Thursday's 4-3 win felt important. And he takes a look at the WNBA Draft and the Lynx selecting Tennessee forward Rennia Davis No. 9 overall.

MN United season preview + What is wrong with the Twins? Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

Star Tribune beat writer Jerry Zgoda and Minnesota United midfielder Wil Trapp join the show for a season preview as the Loons prepare for their opener Friday at Seattle. Expectations are high, both externally and internally, after MN United narrowly missed making the MLS Cup final last season. Will the addition of several veterans and the continued ascendance of Emanuel Reynoso propel the Loons to even greater heights, or will they struggle to live up to their own success?

At the outset, Rand examines the suddenly ice-cold Twins, who have lost five straight games -- all at Target Field -- in frustrating fashion. At 5-7 on the season, the Twins seem like they are better than their record indicates. But it's also possible that their greatest strengths -- all-around depth and lack of a glaring weakness -- could also be a detriment in close games.

Plus a Wild win, a look ahead and a look ahead to the WNBA Draft on Thursday night.

Wild big picture comes into focus + Four great listener questions Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

The Star Tribune's Sarah McLellan joins Michael Rand for a look at the Wild and how it didn't make any moves at the trade deadline. While that seems out of character for general manager Bill Guerin -- and might be disappointing to some fans given the Wild's playoff position -- it is reflective of an overall philosophy of patience and even better times to come. Plus: What does the Wild need to fine-tune in the final 16 games of the regular season?

At the outset, Rand acknowledges what a relentless last five months it has been for the Timberwolves and contextualizes it with Tuesday's 127-97 loss to the Nets.

And a bunch of listeners -- most of whom probably know who A-Rod is, unlike Anthony Edwards -- offer up some great questions that Rand answers.

Columnist La Velle E. Neal III and U assistant Dave Thorson Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

The Twins, Wild and Timberwolves were all supposed to have home games Monday. Instead, those three teams led the late "SportsCenter" because they were postponed in the wake of the police shooting of Daunte Wright. Michael Rand samples some of the nationwide reaction to Wright's death and is joined by Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III for a broader discussion of how local teams have responded in these defining moments.

Later in the show, Rand is joined by new Gophers men's basketball assistant coach Dave Thorson, a longtime local high school coach at DeLaSalle who had Gophers head coach Ben Johnson on some of his earliest successful teams. How will Thorson's vast knowledge of basketball and the state of Minnesota help with in-state recruiting?

And a movie about Sean Payton that you just can't believe.

Timberwolves bought by A-Rod; Twins bullpen owned by Mariners Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

Patrick Reusse joins Michael Rand at the outset of Monday's show to talk about the big news of the weekend: Glen Taylor is selling the Timberwolves to a group led by former MLB star Alex Rodriguez and billionaire Marc Lore. Aside from the stunning nature of the news, what does it mean for the future of the franchise? Plus Reusse and Rand lament the Twins' nagging issues -- and sagging late-inning bullpen -- that have turned an overall strong start into just a 5-4 record so far.

Plus Jim Souhan joins Rand from the Masters after Hideki Matsuyama's historic victory and Rand gives a Wild trade deadline update.

Two Minnesota winners + a Zach Parise trade proposal Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

Michael Rand dives right into the Twins' 10-2 home opener win over Seattle, a day that couldn't have gone much better and showed the Twins flexing all of their strengths. Among them: the continued hot start of Byron Buxton, which Bally Sports North's Roy Smalley helps explain.

Later on, Randy Johnson joins the show from Pittsburgh to break down the NCAA men's hockey Frozen Four, which saw St. Cloud State upend Minnesota State (Mankato) and UMass knock off two-time defending champion Minnesota-Duluth in a pair of dramatic semifinals Thursday.

Plus, Rand has a wish: for the Wild and Zach Parise to part ways before the trade deadline on Monday, even if such a thing seems unlikely. Rand also delves into a Wolves lineup issue and muses about Richard Pitino's confirmed $0 buyout.

The Twins' identity? Winning. Plus: The Wild make a statement Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Michael Rand after a 4-2 road trip sets up Thursday's home opener and a return of 10,000 fans to Target Field. What did we learn about the Twins in the first six games? It might be too early to draw conclusions, but it seems like their identity might go something like this: Above average at everything with no glaring weaknesses. That should lead to a lot of wins, especially if Byron Buxton and Jose Berrios are as good as they have looked early.

At the top of the show, Rand talks about how important the Wild's 8-3 win over Colorado was both from a psychological standpoint and a practical one. By scoring four power play goals, Minnesota kept improving in that pivotal area after an awful start, giving more evidence to the idea that the Wild could be dangerous in the postseason.

Plus the immaturity of the Timberwolves, a 78-game streak broken and a huge signing by Minnesota United.

Time to see what D'Angelo Russell can do + an MLB rant Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

Timberwolves podcaster Dane Moore joins Michael Rand for an examination of what we learned from D'Angelo Russell's first game back from knee surgery Monday, just the sixth game he's played with Karl-Anthony Towns since Russell was acquired 14 months ago. The Wolves have 21 games left this season. What can they hope to accomplish with the KAT/D-Lo pairing intact? How does Anthony Edwards fit into the new pecking order? How much will the Wolves miss Malik Beasley, who will miss at least four weeks with a hamstring injury?

At the start of the show, Rand rants about MLB's extra inning rule implemented in 2020, where a runner starts on second base at the start of each inning. The Twins are 0-2 in extra inning games and 3-0 in nine-inning games this season. Plus, the transfer portal is taking away from the Gophers men's basketball team at a much higher rate than it is giving them players.

Can Ben Johnson's Gophers recruit the next Jalen Suggs? Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

Star Tribune men's college basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to break down Baylor's 86-70 win over Gonzaga in Monday night's NCAA title game. While Gonzaga came up short in its pursuit of a perfect season, freshman Jalen Suggs from Minnehaha Academy scored 22 points and has a bright future ahead of him. What is his next move? And can the Gophers under new head coach Ben Johnson recruit a player of that caliber in the future?

At the outset, Michael Rand breaks down a newsy 24 hours. Vikings corner Jeff Gladney was arrested and accused of assaulting a woman in Texas. The Timberwolves and Wild both welcomed back fans into their arenas -- with the Wolves getting a win while also welcoming back D'Angelo Russell while the Wild lost again to Colorado. And the Twins seem to be firing on all cylinders in Detroit.

Plus: Who won the Sam Darnold trade?

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