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Minnesota's top high school football players and teams; Randy Johnson on Gophers vs. North Carolina Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who lost again and are 1-5 on this homestand. Manager Rocco Baldelli attributed their recent slide to one of many streaks they've had this season. The Twins and their fans better hope he's right because any help for a sagging roster has been slow to come, if at all. The Lynx are going in the other direction, though, surging into second place in the WNBA and looking every bit like a title contender.

9:00: Rand welcomes in the Star Tribune's Jim Paulsen for part of Thursday's football feast. Paulsen gives insights into his Dream Team of the top high school football players in the entire state of Minnesota and sets the stage for Thursday's first big slate of games.

22:00: Randy Johnson provides the second helping of football, getting listeners ready for Thursday's Gophers football opener against North Carolina.

Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit from the State Fair; a lot of us were wrong about the 2022 Vikings draft Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the much-maligned top part of the Vikings' 2022 draft class now that Lewis Cine has been cut. There's no doubt that the Vikings missed on Cine, Andrew Booth and Brian Asamoah, among others. But it was interesting to look back at the consensus at the time of the draft. A lot of smart folks thought the Vikings had done well.

10:00: Gophers women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit joined Rand and Gophers writer Kent Youngblood at the State Fair to preview the upcoming season. You'll learn what Plitzuweit likes about this year's team and what stat she loves the most.

34:00: The Twins lost again, and the Royals pulled even with Cleveland. Have we been focused on the wrong AL Central foe?

Four areas of Vikings concern; Twins in the eye of the storm; PWHL Minnesota stars join the show Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Monday's storm-interrupted 10-6 loss to Atlanta, the Twins' sixth setback in their last eight games. Bailey Ober has been terrific almost all year, but he gave up nine early runs before the skies opened up. The pressure will be on rookie Simeon Woods Richardson on Tuesday to get the Twins, who are suddenly in third place in the AL Central, back on track.

Rand also identified the four areas of the Vikings roster that he is most concerned about at the start of the season. Roster cutdowns are coming Tuesday, and Minnesota could use some depth in a few different areas.

14:00: Taylor Heise, Kelly Pannek and Nicole Hensley, all standouts from PWHL Minnesota's championship team this season, joined Rand on the Minnesota Star Tribune stage at the State Fair. They talked about the highs and lows of the season, what it means to be a pro hockey player and what they can do for a Year 2 encore.

37:00: Rand is back at the fair for a couple more interviews Tuesday. Come say hi.

Patrick Reusse on three bad Twins losses, three good Lynx wins and the Minnesota State Fair Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included another late blown lead Sunday by the Twins. Are the wheels starting to fall off for a team with injury woes and shaky pitching depth, or was this just a bad week?

The news for the Lynx was much happier this week, as they defeated Las Vegas twice and Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever once. Minnesota is looking like a true WNBA title contender, a status solidified by its showing over the weekend.

Plus Reusse and Rand get into some town ball, a Minnesota team that won a championship and the Minnesota State Fair.

Can Sam Darnold be the next Baker Mayfield? + Is it time to trust the Twins' rookie pitchers? Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a Vikings question that has been on his mind for months. There are numerous similarities between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, including their draft year (2018) and career trajectories. Mayfield had a bounceback season in 2023 and re-established himself as an NFL starter. Rand looks inside the numbers to see if Darnold is a candidate to do the same with the Vikings in 2024.

14:00: Star Tribune Twins writer Phil Miller saw all the highs and lows of the Twins' recent 4-3 road trip. He joins the show to offer perspectives on the trio of rookie pitchers in the starting rotation as well as injury timelines for Minnesota's ailing stars.

38:00: It's a big weekend in Minnesota sports.

'The Sandlot' meets 'Field of Dreams' in Minneapolis; Why not? Wolves' Josh Minott interviews himself Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: In an offbeat edition of the podcast, host Michael Rand spends some time with the Fremont Avenue Wiffle Ball League, a collection of kids in south Minneapolis who have had a great summer playing on their backyard field. You'll hear their story and maybe spark some memories of your own.

15:00: Rand talks with third-year Timberwolves player Josh Minott, with a twist. Their entire conversation is based on prompts that Rand pulled from captions Minott put on his own social media posts. The hope is that it provides a window into Minott's worldview.

23:00: The Twins and Lynx keep defying odds, with two big wins Wednesday showing how they both define the notion of a true team.

Twins bullpen woes; Brian Flores opens up; A huge week (and big trade) for the Lynx Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two of the biggest Minnesota sports stories of the day. The Twins held leads of 3-1 and 5-3 but ultimately lost 7-5 to the Padres, the second time during a three-game losing skid that their bullpen has melted down late. The difference between the relief staffs for Minnesota and Cleveland is the most glaring gap in the AL Central race. Plus Rand lauds Brian Flores for speaking up about evolving as a coach and person.

13:00: Star Tribune Lynx writer Kent Youngblood joins the show to break down Tuesday's trade for Myisha Hines-Allen to bolster their frontcourt. It's a huge week for the Lynx, who face Las Vegas twice and then Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever on the same night Maya Moore's jersey is retired.

33:00: Gophers bowl projections? In August?

Kevin O'Connell won't stand for Brian Flores slander; Jon Marthaler on Minnesota United transfer additions Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with comments made by Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa about his former head coach and current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Tagovailoa was critical of Flores coaching style, particularly in contrast to current coach Mike McDaniel, and said of Flores, "You have a terrible person telling you things that you don't want to hear or probably shouldn't be hearing, you're going to start believing that about yourself." Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was asked about it on Monday, and Flores figures to be asked about it Tuesday.

Rand also dissects the Twins' 5-3 loss to the Padres on Monday. Rookie Zebby Matthews got into trouble with two uncharacteristic walks, but it was a strike that hurt him the most.

12:00: Soccer writer Jon Marthaler joins Rand to talk about the roster shakeup for Minnesota United. The Loons brought in several players during the recently completed transfer window. Combined with a schedule that has had United off for more than three weeks, it gives them an air of mystery when MLS play resumes Saturday.

32:00: Mike Gundy wants to focus on football, an increasingly difficult task.

Patrick Reusse on Rocco Baldelli, Stephon Gilmore and a Lynx draft blunder Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand on Monday's edition for a look back at the weekend in sports.

The Twins won three of four in Texas and trimmed Cleveland's division lead to two games. Even with a disappointing loss Sunday, three nice wins have the Twins in good shape on a tough road trip. They have also silenced a lot of critics of manager Rocco Baldelli.

The Vikings won another preseason game. More importantly, they signed standout veteran corner Stephon Gilmore. If they have good health, the Vikings have the makings of a pretty good defense.

And Reusse discusses his recent column on the Lynx and his approach to the State Fair.

The Teddy Bridgewater parallel; Game-by-game Gophers football breakdown; two good wins Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with two emails from listeners. Shane is blaming himself for J.J. McCarthy's injury because of a parallel his life to Teddy Bridgewater's injury eight years ago. And Bob thinks the Twins have missed some critical chances to close the gap on Cleveland even though they had a strong overall homestand and good win Thursday in Texas.

13:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson gives us the latest on running back Darius Taylor's hamstring injury and goes game-by-game through the entire 12-game schedule with Rand.

36:00: The Lynx are back and didn't miss a beat; the Wolves are being treated (correctly) as one of the NBA's top teams.

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