StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Twins, who shut out Colorado 5-0 behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Chris Paddack to start a 10-game homestand. Paddack has been very good this season against lesser competition but not so much against elite teams. He is a symbol of this year's Twins, and a key to how things go the rest of the way. Plus the drama of the PWHL Draft in St. Pa...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, but they start with a special topic of sorts: Reusse wrote recently about which of the Wolves, Twins, Wild and Vikings are most (or more aptly least) likely to win a championship before 2030, which proved to be a great jumping off point to talk about all four teams and leagues. Plus they get int...

Host Michael Rand dives into the struggles of the Twins against the AL's top teams after a loss to the Yankees dropped Minnesota to 0-14 against New York, Cleveland and Baltimore this season. It's not just one thing, but this is a big thing: the Twins were No. 2 in starting pitcher ERA last season; this year, they are No. 25. Plus Dallas is apparently not invincible after getting routed by Boston...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a look at Justin Jefferson's first four seasons with the Vikings and how his fifth feels like the start of a new phase of his career. The star wide receiver has a big new contract and a rookie quarterback to help bring along. Plus Rand takes note of another win for the Lynx and a milestone for Cheryl Reeve. 9:00: U.S. Senator Tina Smith joins the show as...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes listeners through Tuesday's latest hearing in bankruptcy court as local teams try to learn their TV fates. It doesn't sound like Twins games will be back on Bally Sports North for Comcast subscribers anytime soon, while a six-week delay in the Diamond Sports bankruptcy process is making leagues antsy. If you couldn't watch the Twins on Tuesday, you have probab...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand reacts to Monday's news that the Vikings and wide receiver Justin Jefferson have agreed on a four-year, $140 million contract. Because of how long it took to get to the finish line, all sorts of outlandish thoughts of trading Jefferson crept in. But in the end, this is what should have happened for everyone. Plus Rand looks at Twins vs. Yankees and a hearing Tuesday...

Introduction: Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Twins continued their impressive play of late, defeating Houston 4-3 on Sunday to win the series. With Jose Miranda providing the winning hit and swinging a hot bat lately and Royce Lewis set to return from his early injury, the slumping Edouard Julien is the odd man out being...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes deep breaking down Minnesota's humbling Game 5 loss to Dallas at Target Center, which ended the Western Conference finals. The Wolves came up short in their bid to win a championship but took a major step forward this year. How will they navigate the offseason and what lessons did they learn in a joyous season this year? 18:00: Jon Marthaler joins the show for...

Introduction: Playing off of a near-perfect Game 5 performance by Minnesota on Wednesday to win the PWHL championship, host Michael Rand asks whether recent events are evidence enough that any sort of sports curse in this state has been lifted. At the very least, let's give praise to PWHL Minnesota's resilience and 3-0 victory over Boston, while also wondering if the Wolves can follow suit. 9:00:...

Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand to break down the Wolves' big Game 4 win in Dallas. After falling into an 0-3 series hole, the Wolves found a way behind Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns to pull out a 105-100 win and send the series back to Target Center for Game 5. Can they overcome history and rally all the way back? What was different about Tuesday's game? 25:0...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the long weekend in sports, which of course begins with the precarious position the Timberwolves now find themselves in. Down 3-0 to Dallas in their best-of-seven Western Conference finals after three clutch time meltdowns, the Wolves must now make history to advance to the finals. Can they start their climb back with...

Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand after a gut punch 109-108 Timberwolves loss to Dallas in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. Luka Doncic hit a go-ahead three in the closing seconds, while Naz Reid's attempt at the buzzer rimmed out on a night when the Wolves led most of the way. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns shot just 9 for 33 combined in the game. Edward...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of Chris Finch sending a message to his players after a disappointing Game 1 loss in the Western Conference finals. The Wolves coach wasn't happy with the effort or results in a 108-105 defeat and let them know about it in a film session ahead of Friday's Game 2 against Dallas. Plus the Lynx lost for the first time this season, but the process remains goo...

Introduction: On Thursday's regular episode after a late night bonus episode on the Wolves, host Michael Rand starts with the Twins and a two-game winning streak to wash away the taste of seven straight losses. Plus Rand has leftover thoughts on the Timberwolves and the test they haven't yet passed this postseason. 13:00: Star Tribune writer Rachel Blount joins the show to talk about PWHL Minnesot...

Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand after the Timberwolves' 108-105 loss to the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Minnesota's stars were outplayed by Dallas' stars, especially in a critical fourth quarter when Luka Doncic took over on both ends of the court. Can the Wolves find more energy and better execution in Friday's Game 2 at Target Center? And ca...

Introduction: Don't mess with a winning streak, and definitely don't tolerate a losing streak. After the Twins scored just 12 runs during a seven-game losing skid, they ordered the return of their smoked meat talisman. The Rally Sausage arrived at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Washington, and a few hours later Minnesota demolished the Nationals 10-0. Coincidence? Only if you've never played sports. Plus Ra...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the Twins, who were hammered again Monday. They've lost seven straight and have been outscored 45-12 in that span -- all of it coming immediately after they had won 17 of their previous 20 games. Jhoan Duran is frustrated. Rocco Baldelli is frustrated. A players-only meeting was held. What's going on here? 11:00: Star Tribune writer, editor and unabashed Wo...

Introduction: Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a breakdown of the Wolves' historic Game 7 comeback win over Denver. Trailing by 15 at halftime and 20 in the third quarter, the Wolves stormed back for a 98-90 victory. The heroes and big plays piled up as Minnesota advanced to the conference finals for the second time in franchise history -- on the 20th anniversary o...

On a special bonus edition of Daily Delivery, Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine reports from Denver and checks in with host Michael Rand to set the stage for Sunday's huge Game 7 between the Wolves and Nuggets. A series that has already seen three blowouts -- including a 115-70 Wolves rout in Game 6 at Target Center -- is undeniably hard to predict. But Hine and Rand will examine some of...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves' Game 6 rout of the Nuggets, another twist in a strange series that now leads to a deciding Game 7 in Denver on Sunday. The final score was 115-70, with the Wolves taking control early after a sluggish start. That deciding game, by the way, will come 20 years to the day after the only other Game 7 in franchise history: Wolves 83, Kings 8...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a trio of games, beginning with PWHL Minnesota coming back from the brink of elimination to win its second straight playoff game against Toronto. After another shutout from Maddie Rooney, this one in a 1-0 double overtime win at Xcel Energy Center, the series is headed back to Toronto for a winner-takes-all Game 5. Plus a good draw for Minnesota United a...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the latest in the dispute between Comcast and Diamond Sports, with MLB weighing in before a key bankruptcy hearing Wednesday with a motion that casts doubt on Diamond's ability to keep Bally Sports channels afloat without an agreement with Comcast. Where will things go from here? Plus the Twins lost to the Yankees and the Lynx won their opener on the roa...

In a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand starts with the NBA. If you wanted the playoffs to be easy, you came to the wrong place. The Wolves vs. Denver series was always destined to go at least six games, and now we will find out what Minnesota is made of in Tuesday's pivotal Game 5. Plus Rand looks ahead to the Lynx opener Tuesday and Twins vs. Yankees. 11:00: The Star Tribune's Randy Johnson j...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They started, of course, with a massively disappointing set of home games for the Wolves, who came back from Denver up 2-0 in their playoff series but head back to Denver tied 2-2 after a pair of defeats at Target Center. What went wrong, and what should we expect in Game 5 Tuesday? 17:00: The T...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at five things he got wrong about the Timberwolves over the last few years. It's a good lesson in patience that Minnesota didn't do some of the things he was advocating. Plus some things Rand got right and the Twins wrapping up a great homestand with more superb starting pitching. 13:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball beat writer Marcus Fuller jo...