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Gophers one win away; Is the Twins starting pitching for real? Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched Thursday's NCAA men's hockey semifinal between the Gophers and Boston University through the lens of a fatalistic Minnesota sports viewer. It seemed like one of those games where everything was stacking up against a local team ... right up until the third period, when the Gophers pulled away for a 6-2 victory that has them on the brink of their first national title in 20 years.

7:00: Phil Miller joins Rand ahead of Friday's home opener for the Twins. Their starting pitching has allowed just four runs in six games. Was that the competition, is the rotation just that good, or is there some combination of both at play?

24:00: Jim Souhan checks in from The Masters, where a ton of top contenders went low on Thursday but could face challenges over the weekend.

32:00: Jamison Battle to Ohio State.

Twins TV battle heats up; La Velle E. Neal on Wolves, drafting a QB; Jim Souhan from The Masters Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Diamond Sports missed a payment to the Twins at the start of the season for the right to show games on Bally Sports North. As a result, Major League Baseball reportedly filed a temporary injunction in Diamond's bankruptcy case that would force either payment to the Twins by April 13 or allow the league to take over broadcasts. It's all part of an escalation that could usher in a new era of baseball on TV.

6:00: Jim Souhan joins host Michael Rand from Augusta where a very intriguing Masters is about to begin.

16:00: La Velle E. Neal III has a lot of opinions about the Twins, Timberwolves and Vikings' quarterback situation.

42:00: How soon will Kirill Kaprizov be back with the Wild?

Three big Wild questions: Kaprizov's return, playoff seed and Game 1 goalie? Apr 05, 2023

Show notes

Host Michael Rand notes at the top of the show the latest twist in a bizarre Timberwolves season. After losing to a tanking Portland team on Sunday at home, the Wolves went on the road and beat a good Nets team. That win gave the Wolves new life in the playoff race and clinched at least a spot in the play-in tournament.

6:00: Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan joins Rand from Augusta where competing tours are colliding at The Masters.

13:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan talks through three big questions for the Wild: When will Kirill Kaprizov return, can the Wild win the Central Division and who will start in net when the playoffs start?

36:00: Caitlin Clark, the best women's college basketball player and the voice of reason.

Dividing blame for disappointing Wolves; Are Twins for real? + Frozen Four preview Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the disappointing Timberwolves season (so far) and tries to discern where to direct the blame. He settles on four key people: GM Tim Connelly, head coach Chris Finch and big men Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns.

14:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand in advance of the Frozen Four, where the No. 1 overall seed Gophers are trying to win their first NCAA title in 20 years.

26:00: The Wild clinched a playoff spot but lost ground in the division race; the Twins are 4-0 and looking like a legitimate threat.

Patrick Reusse on an all-time Timberwolves low, the 3-0 Twins and great women's basketball Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

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

*An all-time bad loss by the Timberwolves to the Blazers, which severely damaged Minnesota's playoff hopes and raises new questions about the offseason.

*The Twins starting 3-0 -- in three crisp and brisk games.

*A tremendous women's basketball Final Four.

Championship odds, Claire De Lune on Lakers vs. Wolves, MLB pace of play Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand gives gratitude on MLB's opening day for the pace of play changes made in the offseason. As a longtime baseball fan, Rand says he is far more likely to attend a game this year than in recent seasons.

4:00: Musician and NBA writer Clarie De Lune joins Rand for a breakdown of the Lakers ahead of Friday's huge game against the Wolves at Target Center. It's as fun an NBA season as any in recent memory, and plenty of twists are yet to come.

29:00: Rand runs down the playoff chances for local teams, which might surprise you.

Rudy Gobert blasts NBA refereeing; Chip Scoggins on Twins; Bally Sports subscriber decline Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand makes a run through two very important games Wednesday that had two very different outcomes. The Wild fended off the Avalanche 4-2 to stay in first place in the Central Division. Meanwhile, the Wolves were left fuming after a 107-100 loss to Phoenix -- with Rudy Gobert going off on perceived favoritism he sees with officiating.

9:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand on a number of subjects: The Twins' pitching plan, the Vikings' offseason and the Gophers football team's departures in the transfer portal.

33:00: Bally Sports North has lost more than half its subscribers in the last decade.

Are the Twins AL Central favorites? + Mike Conley's impact and the Vikings' plan Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand is still trying to discern the Vikings' offseason plan. It's late March, still several months from the start of the season. There is another wave of free agency and the draft to come. New players will obviously be added. But the overall vision of trying to rebuild while being competitive seems a lot muddier than it should be.

8:00: Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for an in-depth look at the Twins. With the season opener coming Thursday in Kansas City, there is considerable optimism. Projections suggest the Twins are a likely playoff team, and Miller says starting pitching depth is the big reason why.

31:00: Hear from Twins President Dave St. Peter on ballpark enhancements; Rand notes the impact of Mike Conley Jr. on the Wolves.

Surging Wild and Wolves; NFL QB volatility; Marcus Fuller on college hoops Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand recaps Monday's big wins for the Wolves and Wild over Sacramento and Seattle, respectively. The Wolves are now in sixth place in the West and the Wild are first in the Central Division. How both teams have been winning is impressive, but there is a lot of work ahead -- including more big games for both on Wednesday.

10:00: Star Tribune men's college basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins Rand to talk about the wild NCAA men's basketball tournament, your (likely) busted bracket, the Gophers' ongoing attempts to rebuild their roster and highlights from the boys' high school basketball tournament.

29:00: Lamar Jackson wants a trade, Packers GM fires back at Aaron Rodgers and La Velle E. Neal has a big (optimistic) Twins opinion.

Patrick Reusse on Gophers hockey, Timberwolves and Twins pessimism Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Reusse made the trek to Fargo, N.D., for the men's hockey region final and saw the Gophers fend off St. Cloud State in a 4-1 victory for a berth in the Frozen Four. The depth, talent and determination of this year's Gophers team told the story.

12:00: The Timberwolves earned a big win over the Warriors on Sunday, with Karl-Anthony Towns supplying the clutch points in the closing minutes. The Wolves are over .500 again and have a legitimate chance at a top-6 seed in the West. Meanwhile, the Wild are in first place in the Central Division heading into the final stretch of games.

29:00: Twins pitcher Sonny Gray is not content to pitch five innings and doesn't think a lot of the other pitchers in the rotation are, either.

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