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Old nemesis Phil Cuzzi haunts Twins again; Anthony Edwards' big offseason May 16, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand finds that the Twins might have dispatched an old nemesis by beating the Yankees in the season series this year, but they found two more on Monday. In losing their 11th consecutive game to the Dodgers, the Twins were undone by umpires in two key situations -- including some awful strike calls by the infamous Phil Cuzzi in a key situation.

6:00: Chris Hine joins Rand for a further dissection of Hine's recent interview with Wolves star Anthony Edwards. What are the offseason priorities for Ant? And how can the Wolves best support him?

28:00: A what-if for the Wolves and Wild; Za'Darius Smith was a good player here.

Patrick Reusse on Alex Kirilloff's impact, Gophers softball and Za'Darius Smith May 15, 2023

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included a Target Field-record 29 runs for the Twins in their three-game series against the Cubs. An offense that was struggling is getting a big boost from Alex Kirilloff's return to health.

Reusse and Rand also check in on the NBA playoffs, which included interesting second-round conclusions for the Knicks and 76ers. Also add another voice to the Rudy Gobert "worst trade of all time" chorus.

The powerhouse Gophers softball team is in the NCAA tournament again. They've made it to 10 straight, excluding the COVID year of 2020. And Za'Darius Smith was right to put his house on the market, after all.

Game-by-game Vikings predictions; Zarek Valentin from Minnesota United May 12, 2023

Show notes

Host Michael Rand goes through all 17 games of the Vikings' schedule released Thursday and makes win-loss predictions for each one. Does he come to an optimistic conclusion? Where are the soft and strong parts of the schedule?

11:00: Rand is joined by Minnesota United defender Zarek Valentin. In his first year with the club, Valentin is providing stability and veteran leadership to a team that has already had its share of obstacles. Valentin also talks about his love of Philadelphia sports and the terrible renderings of him in the FIFA soccer games.

28:00: Carlos Correa had the big hit for the Twins on Thursday, and manager Rocco Baldelli thinks it could be the start of a hot streak.

Would a lineup of ex-Twins be better than their current lineup? We make one, 1-9 May 11, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: The Twins got a sorely needed 4-3, 11 inning win on Wednesday against the Padres. The offense stalled again, getting just two runs in the first nine innings, but starting pitcher Pablo Lopez was excellent and the Twins got clutch hits in the 10th an 11th innings. It was a further reminder of their identity shift this year.

5:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins and St. Paul Academy senior Tommy Verhey join Rand for a practical thought exercise. Rand, with the help of Verhey, put together a completely new Twins lineup comprised almost exclusively of players the Twins have traded in recent years. Plus they talk about recent Karl-Anthony Towns comments about the Rudy Gobert trade and examine Chip's column on sports gambling and college sports.

36:00: Not so fast on that new Phoenix Suns TV deal.

La Velle E. Neal III on Byron Buxton, Emanuel Reynoso and Dalvin Cook May 10, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand noticed a lot of angst over Jaden McDaniels not being named to an All-NBA defensive team on Tuesday. Rand's thought: McDaniels is good, but his time will come. The bigger takeaway from the defensive voting is that Wolves center Rudy Gobert -- a first-team defensive player the last six years and a Defensive Player of the Year three years -- didn't get a single vote to be on this year's team. It underscores that he was far from being the player the Wolves thought they were getting in last summer's blockbuster trade.

8:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a three-part conversation: How long will it take Emanuel Reynoso to be back on the field for Minnesota United? Is it a good thing that Byron Buxton seems to be the long-term DH for the Twins? And how much longer will Dalvin Cook be on the Vikings?

28:00: The Twins' offense is still stuck, but the Loons broke out on Tuesday.

Which struggling Twins hitters should we be most (and least) worried about? May 09, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts the show with the NBA playoffs and two very different thoughts off of Monday's games. He watched the Heat take down the Knicks to take a 3-1 series lead and wondered, as he wrote Monday, whether a Knicks exit could stir up a Karl-Anthony Towns trade market. The nightcap was just a chance to marvel at two aging legends, Stephen Curry and LeBron James, try to will OK teams into the Western Conference Finals.

9:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand with a bunch of interesting news and tidbits, including: Carlos Correa helping to convince Byron Buxton to be a full-time DH; Royce Lewis is ahead of schedule on his injury rehab; with many Twins slumping, who is a candidate to break out and who should we be worried about? And just how exceptional is this Twins starting pitching?

32:00: Emanuel Reynoso is back with Minnesota United, but what will that mean?

Patrick Reusse on the hitless Twins, Tim Connelly and playoff intrigue May 08, 2023

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the weekend in sports.

The Twins had just 28 hits on a six-game road trip against AL Central foes Chicago and Cleveland. They're still in first place, but the gap between their excellent pitching and suspect hitting continues to get wider.

Reusse reacts to the lack of firm commitment from Wolves boss Tim Connelly, worries about his pal Tom Thibodeau's Knicks and notes Seattle's scoring outburst against Dallas.

And a finish with a high note: Gophers softball.

Interesting Kevin Garnett thoughts; Why can't Minnesota United score? Endless Vikings QB talk May 05, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was struck recently by a podcast featuring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce talking about the Timberwolves. In particular, KG's assessment of the franchise -- everything from big-picture Minneapolis issues to Anthony Edwards to small details -- was a fresh perspective worth our attention.

10:00: Local soccer writer and podcaster Jon Marthaler joined the show to talk about Minnesota United and their ongoing inability to score. Their identity is clearly built around defense, but until they resolve the Emanuel Reynoso situation the offense is stuck in the mud.

27:00: If you're tired of Vikings QB talk, I have bad news. We have a full year of speculation ahead of us given Kirk Cousins' contract situation.

Adam Thielen on his departure from the Vikings, the receivers still here and his new start in Carolina May 04, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: In a Vikings-heavy show, host Michael Rand starts with the first public comments in a while form Vikings QB Kirk Cousins. He is set to be a free agent after this season and the Vikings were interested in taking a QB in the draft. It all sets up an interesting 2023 season for Cousins, but it's a situation he and the Vikings should be able to navigate.

13:00: Former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen joins Rand and reiterates that he wishes he could still be in Minnesota but that a fresh start in Carolina was probably for the best. Thielen addresses why his fit in Kevin O'Connell's offense wasn't ideal and expresses confidence in the receives still here.

27:00: White Sox reliever relishes striking out "cheater" Carlos Correa; Gophers women's basketball gets two players in one day.

A message of hope from Wild GM Bill Guerin; Lynx forward Aerial Powers on the year ahead May 03, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand listened to Wild GM Bill Guerin's end of year comments about the progress the team made and actually agreed with a lot of the optimism for the future. Rand feels much better about the Wild's trajectory than that of the Wolves over the next five years.

14:00: Lynx forward Aerial Powers joins Rand for a look ahead to the season. Powers, one of the veterans on the Lynx, will be tasked with helping lead a turnaround after the Lynx missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons a year ago.

26:00: Final thoughts on the Twins, the suddenly vulnerable Dallas Stars and the NBA playoffs.

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