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Scoring runs without a lot of strikeouts? Who knew it was possible! + Minnesota United playoff push, coach search Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the remaining MLB playoff teams and finds teams scoring runs without a preponderance of strikeouts. Houston and Texas, for instance, combined for 13 runs on Wednesday while striking out just 10 times combined. It was a far cry from how the Twins' season ended and made Rand think more about where the Twins can alter their approach. Plus, an opportunity on Thursday for the Wild.

10:00: The Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda joins Rand for a look at Minnesota United. The Loons are still very much in the MLS playoff race, but as soon as the year ends they will turn to a biggest question of who will coach the team long-term.

25:00: The impact of Marcus Davenport's injury and an interesting read on the future of sports on TV.

Are Gophers one of college football's biggest disappointments? + The end of 'Falvine'? Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand is still concerned about the Wild's long-term outlook, but Tuesday's 5-2 win over Montreal restored a certain amount of order. The Wild still have a lot of strengths to play to, and their salary cap situation is not exactly unique. But they really can't afford more injuries to their top players. Plus the Wild are a good lesson that we should apply to the Wolves this season.

10:00: Randy Johnson joins the show ahead of the Gophers football game Saturday at Iowa. P.J. Fleck has never beaten the Hawkeyes, but the Gophers' best chance at reviving a disappointing season starts Saturday.

27:00: Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have been a package deal since they arrived with the Twins seven years ago. Is that duo about to split up?

What's wrong with the Vikings' offense? + Wild in a bad spot already Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: The Wild's 7-4 loss to Toronto over the weekend was costly on two levels. First, Matt Boldy was injured, which leaves the team short one big scorer while exposing a major salary cap crunch. And the Wild also gave up seven goals in the game, causing the team to juggle its defensive pairings just two games into the year. It could be a tough go for the Wild until Boldy and Jared Spurgeon are healthy.

8:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins host Michael Rand as they try to sort out exactly what is wrong with the team's offense. The running game has been stagnant and the third-down offense was poor against the Bears. Plus, what do they make of a surprising Pro Football Focus stat about the offensive line?

28:00: Vikings poetry, even if the game didn't deserve it.

41:00: Aaron Rodgers can't stay out of the spotlight, Part Infinity.

Patrick Reusse on the unwatchable Vikings, Twins needs and the Wild's conundrum Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse and host Michael Rand started with Sunday's 19-13 Vikings victory, their second win of the year. There was very little to like about the offense's first game without Justin Jefferson, and this fact remains: Brian Flores' defense has been more impressive than Kevin O'Connell's offense all things considered this season.

What will the Twins do in 2024? A look at some roster decisions and how the Twins can't take for granted that they will be able to replicate the things that worked well this year.

The Wild have played two very different games and have two problems: Their defense is thin, and they don't have any cap space to make changes.

Who stays and who goes? Big questions loom as Twins' offseason begins Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild's 2-0 win over Florida in Thursday's season opener, a game that couldn't have gone much better for Minnesota. Brock Faber scored, Marco Rossi had a goal (even if it was disallowed) and Filip Gustavsson picked up where he left off with a 41-save shutout. But they did lose Marcus Johansson to a third-period injury, something that could test their depth and salary cap immediately.

7:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Bobby Nightengale joins Rand for a breakdown of the Twins' roster as they head into the offseason. Big questions loom for several free agents, including starting pitcher Sonny Gray, while roughly $10 million options on Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler are interesting as well. The Twins might shed payroll, too, as they prepare for a smaller local TV contract in a future without Bally Sports North.

30:00: We might still be talking about this postseason if calls had gone the Twins way in the playoffs.

Kirk Cousins on trade rumors; Chris Hine on the Wolves; How to frame the Twins' season Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand senses the Twins and fans are in the honeymoon phase of team building. There is disappointment after Wednesday's season-ending loss to Houston in the ALDS, but there is also plenty of optimism over how the season went. The next step, though, is much harder: Getting past this point, when getting stuck gets old quickly.

6:00: Chris Hine joins Rand for a look at the Timberwolves, who are staying quiet through the offseason and preseason as they attempt to have the kind of season this year that they hoped to have a year ago. What will the regular-season rotation look like when play starts in less than two weeks?

28:00: Kirk Cousins addressed trade rumors and how he tries to stay ignorant.

Special Delivery: Twins season ends as it began -- too many strikeouts, not enough runs in Game 4 loss Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was hoping to bring you some of the sounds of a joyous Target Field on Wednesday, but instead the rowdy crowd was quickly silenced whenever it seemed like there was an occasion to cheer. The Twins managed just three hits in a 3-2 loss to Houston that ended their season -- one that, overall, provided plenty of highs and optimism for the future.

7:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand to break down the slumping offense and the Twins' rotating cast of arms approach in Game 4. Plus a look ahead to the key questions looming ahead this offseason.

Sarah McLellan on big Wild questions as season begins; Can Twins overcome exposed flaws? Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand still had the Twins on his mind even after Tuesday's special bonus episode and Wednesday night's planned bonus episode off of their home playoff games at Target Field. Their flaws were exposed in Tuesday's 9-1 loss to Houston. Can they overcome them a day later, or will it take until 2024 to address them?

10:00: The Wild are pressed so tight against the salary cap this season that they will enter the year with just 20 players on the active roster. Can they finesse another playoff season out of their current group? If they get back to the postseason, can they advance? Rand is joined by Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan to tackle those questions and more with the season set to begin Thursday.

34:00: KAT's quiet preseason continues.

Special Delivery: Sonny Gray, Twins routed in Game 3; La Velle E. Neal III has five keys to win Game 4 Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: On a bonus edition of Daily Delivery, host Michael Rand runs through all the disappointment from Tuesday's 9-1 Twins loss to the Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS. Fans picked apart the performance by starter Sonny Gray as well as the Twins' approach at the plate. It's all up to Joe Ryan in Game 4 on Wednesday, and you'll hear from the young Twins starter.

10:00: Columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand to help break down what went wrong on Tuesday, but also to provide his perspective on things the Twins can do differently in hopes of winning Game 4. And remember, if they can force a Game 5 back in Houston on Friday, Pablo Lopez would be back on the mound.

The impact of Sonny Gray for the Twins; Justin Jefferson to injured reserve is latest blow for Vikings Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Game 3 Twins starter Sonny Gray has been everything the team could have wanted this season -- enough so that it's hard to imagine the Twins without him. Gray is a free agent at the end of this season, and his future with the Twins is an interesting subplot to a huge playoff game at Target Field.

7:00: Justin Jefferson's hamstring injury is bad enough that he's headed to injured reserve and will miss at least four games. What does that mean for a Vikings team that -- with the help of film review from Andrew Krammer -- still has a lot of holes after a 1-4 start.

23:00: Soothe yourself with some Vikings poetry.

35:00: A dramatic postseason finish and two playoff firsts.

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