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Wild GM Bill Guerin on taking the next step; Twins need more from Jhoan Duran Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand knows the Twins are still in relatively good shape after Wednesday, but they missed a great chance to put Cleveland away and continued a disturbing trend in the process. Closer Jhoan Duran, nearly unhittable for the first three months of the season, no longer gives off the feeling of invincibility. The Twins need the dominant version of Duran to return. Plus a big win for the Loons and a big question for the Gophers.

8:00: Wild General Manager Bill Guerin joined Rand at the State Fair on Wednesday to talk about the season ahead and how he spends his down time -- which will include a return to the Fair on Thursday to see the Duran Duran concert. He also answered some good questions from the audience at the Star Tribune stage.

33:00: What was your favorite Jalen Reagor moment? I know mine.

Trying to make sense of Vikings roster; Georgia takes aim at Gophers football history Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was admittedly a little puzzled when he saw the Vikings' initial 53-man roster released Tuesday. Three true running backs? Five corners? Eight healthy offensive linemen? This can only be viewed as a work in progress, and an inexperienced group at that. A few veteran pickups will be needed between now and the start of the season for it all to make sense.

7:00: Chip Towers from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution joins Rand for a look at Gophers football history and Georgia's attempt to duplicate the mighty Gophers. Minnesota is the last school (1934-36) to win three consecutive national titles. Can Georgia pull off the repeat this season?

32:00: Three disappointing losses Tuesday, but no real cause for panic.

Are the Twins Royce Lewis' team now? + Keys to the Gophers football season Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand can't help but wonder if we are witnessing a passing of the torch with the Twins -- which would be fitting considering how red-hot Royce Lewis is. The rookie hit a grand slam for the second consecutive game, the first Twins player in history to do that, and continues to spark the offense in the absence of Byron Buxton. Plus an interesting roster move pays off immediately.

13:00: Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins Rand for a look at the season opener Thursday against Nebraska. The Huskers have fallen on hard times in recent years, but this game is still a good early test. Johnson outlines the players who will be keys for the Gophers this year.

29:00: With the Vikings, there's Justin Jefferson -- and then everyone else.

Patrick Reusse on an impressive Twin and a game the Gophers need to win Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included a strong series for the Twins as they took three of four from Texas. Sunday's comeback win was the they key to the whole thing, and it led to a discussion of both Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton.

Reusse and Rand also talked about the Gophers volleyball team's impressive debut over the weekend, which leads into Tuesday's showdown with No. 1 Texas.

The Gophers football team, meanwhile, is more than a touchdown favorite over Nebraska in Thursday's opener. It's a game that they pretty much need to win, Reusse said.

Plus a few words on Trey Lance and Rudy Gobert's quick international exit.

Two impressive wins; A visit with Adrian Heath; Good luck getting a Gophers football ticket Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Thursday's Twins game followed a familiar recent script, but thankfully for the Twins the roles were reversed. After a pair of frustrating losses in which the bullpen couldn't hold leads in Milwaukee, the Twins rallied from a 5-2 deficit behind home runs and excellent relief work to defeat Texas 7-5 and restore a six-game lead in the AL Central. And the Lynx beat Dallas for the second time in three nights, gaining traction in the WNBA playoff picture.

8:00: Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath joins host Michael Rand for a big-picture look at MLS since the addition of Lionel Messi in Miami, the Loons' momentum coming off a strong showing in the inaugural Leagues Cup and a prediction for the final stretch of the season.

29:00: The Gophers football team announced a sellout for their opener against Nebraska.

Trey Lance to the Vikings? + Get to know this team: Minnesota Wind Chill Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand loves a good story about a potential player acquisition, and Trey Lance's likely availability is intriguing. The former No. 3 overall pick with the 49ers in 2021 has fallen on San Francisco's depth chart. Would it make sense for the Vikings to make a trade for the QB in hopes of reviving his career? Plus another bullpen meltdown for the Twins in the sweltering Milwaukee heat.

11:00: Ben Feldman from the Minnesota Wind Chill joins Rand in advance of the Friday and Saturday championship weekend for the American Ultimate Disc League at TCO Stadium in Eagan. The Wind Chill will play in Friday's semifinals, and the sport of ultimate is growing fast overall.

30:00: Will there be drama in the Lynx vs. Dallas rematch?

Bad decisions doom Twins; 'Disgusting' Lynx fans; A new era for Gophers volleyball Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: The Twins led 3-2 after five innings in Milwaukee on Tuesday, with starter Bailey Ober cruising after a rough start. But he was lifted -- to his surprise -- in favor of reliever Dylan Floro, who gave up five runs in the decisive sixth. It underscored two flaws: The Twins are starting to prepare for the future while this year's outcome is very much in doubt, and they lack the trusted bullpen arms to make those decisions in high-leverage games.

8:00: The Lynx won 91-86 over Dallas on Tuesday at Target Center, a game that became heated at the end with a player ejection, fan ejections and opponent calling the home crowd "disgusting."

11:00: Star Tribune writer and editor Jeff Day joins host Michael Rand for a look ahead to the Gophers volleyball season that starts Friday. What should we expect with coach Keegan Cook taking over for Hugh McCutcheon?

34:00: The Gustavus hockey tragedy.

Evaluating Gophers AD Mark Coyle's tenure ; Is Vikings' T.J. Hockenson 'holding in?' Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson hasn't participated in contact drills with the Vikings in more than two weeks, and evidence is mounting that he is "holding in" -- going through meetings and other less-strenuous parts of the preseason -- while he awaits a new contract. Either that, or the ear infection he described last week is pretty nasty.

8:00: Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand for a look at Gophers Athletic Director Mark Coyle. His name surfaced Monday as someone USC was looking at for its AD vacancy, though later Monday USC made a different hire. The news offered a good moment to evaluate Coyle's tenure at Minnesota. Scoggins and Rand also talk Gophers football, with that season starting next week.

31:00: A wild NBA story.

Patrick Reusse on a Twins turnaround, Vikings concerns, Ant's ascent and Augsburg football Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse shared an opinion just last week with host Michael Rand that Dallas Keuchel doesn't belong on a Major League mound. The Keuchel, coming off a disaster of a start against the Phillies, took a perfect game into the seventh for the Twins on Sunday. Baseball is a strange and wonderful game, and the Twins have been getting the best of it lately.

15:00: The Vikings might have depth problems across their roster this season, but particularly on the offensive line. That showed up in a big way in their preseason loss to Tennessee over the weekend.

22:00: Anthony Edwards earns high praise from Steve Kerr.

29:00: Can Augsburg be a football contender in the MIAC?

La Velle E. Neal III's big Twins opinions; Three takeaways from Wolves schedule release Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: The release of various professional team schedules shouldn't be that big of a deal because we already know pretty much every opponent already. But seeing the order does clarify some points, as evidenced again by Thursday's NBA schedule release. Host Michael Rand has some insights into what the Wolves' 82-game slate signals this year.

7:00: Rand is joined by Star Tribune sports columnist La Velle E. Neal for a look at this year's Twins, who have 40 games left and are in prime position to win the AL Central. They also get deep on how covering baseball has changed and note a significant Joe Mauer anniversary coming up.

30:00: The Vikings are opting for kicking stability, which is a smart move.

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