StribSports Daily Delivery

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 bask...

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....

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...

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 wit...

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 conve...

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 Bri...

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 shoul...

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 w...

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 fo...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand toward the end of the week instead of at the start. Rested up from a rustic trip into the Woods, Reusse has all sorts of thoughts on whether the banged-up Twins can sustain their momentum on a tough upcoming road trip. Reusse and Rand also get into the impact of J.J. McCarthy being out for the season and the consideration that it might...

Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand for a quick rundown of the bad news that came Minnesota's way on Wednesday. First, then Vikings announced that quarterback J.J. McCarthy's meniscus tear will require a season-ending surgery, an outcome that wasn't surprising but is still a buzzkill for this season. Goessling and Rand analyze the impact of that news. Plus receiver Jo...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes the debut of Twins pitcher Zebby Matthews and just how much Minnesota is relying on young throwers drafted in the middle-to-late rounds by Derek Falvey. Is this the arrival of the much-anticipated Falvey pitching pipeline? And if so, how will Matthews, David Festa, Bailey Ober and Louie Varland fare down the stretch of a pennant race? Rand also makes two big p...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Monday's double dose of concerning news. After a very encouraging Saturday preseason debut, Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy was held out of Monday's practice with a sore knee. And in the midst of an 8-3 win over the Royals on Monday, Byron Buxton had to leave the game with a hip problem. Even without knowing the timetables for either injury, that's not the news...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who took the first two games of their showdown with Cleveland and had the Guardians on the ropes before dropping Saturday and Sunday's games. It wasn't a disaster, but it definitely was a missed opportunity for the Twins as they still sit 3.5 games back heading into another big series vs. Kansas City. Plus Rand puts a bow on the tremendous Par...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Vikings announcing how they will divide up playing time for their quarterbacks in Saturday's preseason opener. Sam Darnold will start, but rookie J.J. McCarthy will get a lot of time on the field as well. It will be the beginning of a journey, and perhaps the start of the McCarthy hype in earnest. 9:00: Rand talks to Star Tribune Twins writer Bobby N...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at the increasingly perilous pitching depth for the Twins. Steady starter Joe Ryan had to leave Wednesday's game with a triceps injury and is almost certain to miss some time. Minnesota, which wasn't able to add any starting pitching help at the trade deadline, could be leaning more than ever on young arms at a crucial point in its season. 10:00: Rand i...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with an update in the AL Central, where the Twins' five-game winning streak ended in part because of a rough Pablo Lopez outing, the Guardians were rained out and now have two doubleheaders this week and the White Sox finally won after 21 consecutive losses. Also, a listener alerted Rand to a message sent by the Twins to season ticket holders about direct-to-...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand wants to be frustrated, still, that the Twins didn't improve their starting pitching at the trade deadline. But rookie David Festa is making it harder on him with each strong outing. Festa threw five shutout innings against the Cubs on Monday, helping the Twins to their fifth consecutive victory. If the Twins make the postseason, is there a chance Festa could be a f...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joined host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the Twins extending the White Sox misery. After Minnesota swept Chicago at Target Field, the White Sox have now lost 20 consecutive games and have a season record of 27-87. With help from their inept AL Central foes, the Twins moved within 4.5 games of division-leading Cleveland...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a look at the Vikings and Gophers football teams. Both squads professed a desire for more offensive balance last season, with the Vikings looking to run more and the Gophers looking to pass more. But limited personnel and old habits led to more of the same for both Kevin O'Connell and P.J. Fleck. Is there hope for a different outcome in 2024? 11:00: Star...

Introduction: After a couple of days off during which host Michael Rand rediscovered the brief joy of one good hole of golf, he is back with thoughts on Bally Sports North being back on Comcast. It's a sigh of relief for Minnesota sports fans, particularly those who have been missing the Twins and Lynx this summer, but the new pricing tier is $20 more per month if you want to watch now. Will fans...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included the conclusion of the 3M Open. Reusse was impressed by the leader board by the end of the golf tournament, even if the heat was a little much. The Olympics are off to a strong start and Minnesotans are right in the middle of it with Anthony Edwards helping the U.S. men's basketbal...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand highlights some of the key things said by P.J. Fleck on Thursday at Big Ten football media day. Rand finds Fleck to be honest about how to find joy in the moment during a transformational time in college football, but he also thinks Fleck is trying to control the narrative if he wants us to think 2023 wasn't a disappointment. 9:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Go...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the news that the Twins might soon be back on Comcast, at least according to a progress report given by an attorney for Diamond Sports. Rand's sense is that if Bally Sports North returns to Comcast, however, it will be on a higher pricing tier and that Twins fans will have to pay more than before. The bigger question remains: What will be the Twins' loca...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a look at the Twins and the trade deadline. With one week left to make deals, the Twins are targeting pitching. That's a common goal for a lot of teams, but it is particularly important for the Twins as they try to navigate the final two months of the season (and, they hope, the playoffs). 9:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand as they tal...