StribSports Daily Delivery

Introduction: Two things are true of "tanking," the idea of putting at least some intentionality into losing in order to obtain a high draft pick the following year: It is nearly impossible to sell to those actually playing the games, since their competitiveness, pride and livelihood is at stake; but it had proved to deliver the type of game-changing talent to turn franchises around. Host Michael...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand wonders how the frustration expressed in two losses Sunday -- one by the Vikings, one by the Lynx -- will carry over into big moments this week. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins was visibly upset after an interception keyed a 20-17 loss to Tampa Bay. How does that play into a tough game Thursday at Philadelphia? Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve ripped her team after a loss to In...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand watched Aaron Rodgers get hurt on his first series as a Jets QB, a likely Achilles injury that could keep him out for a long time, and couldn't help but think of the emotional letdown after the offseason drama. Imagine, for example, if Brett Favre had been injured in his first series as QB for the Vikings in 2009? 8:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which started with a clunker from the Vikings in their opener. They turned the ball over three times and let Tampa Bay hang around before ultimately losing 20-17 at U.S. Bank Stadium. In conjunction with other weekend outcomes, including the lack of a Justin Jefferson extension and impressive wi...

Introduction; Host Michael Rand watched the Lions rally to beat Kansas City 21-20 and had an uh-oh moment. That was supposed to be a banked loss for Detroit. Now everyone else in the NFC North is chasing the Lions this weekend. It puts even more pressure on the Vikings to win their soft opener against Tampa Bay, even as this roster looks to have a lot of holes. 7:00: Rand and Star Tribune writer/e...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand says that the Twins did everything fans could have really asked for on their recent 13-game stretch against Texas and Cleveland. Even after losing Wednesday to the Guardians, the Twins went 8-5 during that span and increased their AL Central led from five to six games. With just 22 to play, they are in great shape. 6:00: Rand and Star Tribune writer/editor Jeff Day...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand provides perspective on the latest sports on TV battle, which has left nearly 15 million subscribers to Charter/Spectrum cable without ESPN and other Disney-owned channels just as sports ramp back up again. This squabble has a different feel to it, and Rand wonders if we will look back on this as a turning point. 10:00: Rand welcomes in four members of the Gophers b...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the long weekend in sports, which included a 20-run outburst by the Twins on Monday. Royce Lewis hit his third grand slam in an eight-game span, pushing the division lead to six games. The Twins have been hitting well lately, and they've been doing it without Byron Buxton. He had another injury setback, and Reusse is...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand couldn't believe his eyes, and neither could most of you. Daniel Jackson somehow managed to get his foot in bounds on a fourth down play late against Nebraska, changing the narrative of the game and perhaps the entire season for both teams in a 13-10 Gophers victory in Thursday's opener. Rand marvels at the play itself and the impact it had on how we view the game i...

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 w...

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 T...

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 immedi...

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 th...

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 secon...

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 Milwa...

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...

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 Ran...

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...

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 column...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand explains how Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins -- inadvertently and no, not really -- ruined his chance at perfection on Wednesday's Immaculate Grid. Along the way, Bob Schnelker makes an appearance, obviously. 12:00: Former Gophers defenseman and current Wild defenseman Brock Faber joins Rand to catch up on a whirlwind four months and a look ahead to an important 20...

Introduction: Matt Wallner's grand slam was the biggest hit Tuesday in the Twins' 5-3 win over the Tigers, but two players we were all ready to give up on also played key roles again. Max Kepler was on base twice and scored during the five-run fifth, while Emilio Pagan had another effective relief outing. Both have been excellent for the last two months, much to the surprise of almost everyone. 8:...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the news that former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is joining forces with Aaron Rodgers on the Jets. A deal that could be worth as much as $8.6 million in 2023 feels like a reach for a player who had so many negative plays last season. 6:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand for a wide-ranging look at multiple topics, including whether this is finally the year...

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joined host Michael Rand for a three-pronged look at baseball in Minnesota. They started with the Twins, who won the final two games of their series in Philadelphia -- aided by superb starting pitching from Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray -- to restore faith and a 4.5-game lead in the American League Central. Reusse asks an interesting question: Why not bring back...

Introduction: Host Michael Rand stayed up to watch almost all of the Vikings' 24-13 preseason loss to the Seahawks and came away with five thoughts after the game. On the plus side, the initial depth -- particularly running back Ty Chandler -- looked solid in building a 10-0 lead. But the rest of an anonymous roster needs work. 12:00: Twins Daily co-founder Nick Nelson joins Rand to break down the...

Introduction: In an upside-down show, host Michael Rand starts with guest ChikenFingerz69 of social media and The Sportive podcast fame in a sort of cleansing segment. They talk about Rand and his bizarre, completely wrong opinion from nearly a decade ago that the Vikings needed to draft quarterback Johnny Manziel -- a decision that, had it been made, would have been a disaster. A new Netflix docu...