On Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner and Grubes sit down with Dallas Morning News veteran Evan Grant (29 seasons on the Rangers beat) to unpack a maddening 2025 campaign: elite starting pitching, an offense that never synced, and a clubhouse that couldn’t find its rhythm. Evan explains why this felt like the most underperforming Rangers team in memory, what changed going from Donnie Ecker to Brett Boone on hitting, and how a late-season infusion of “Little Rascals” energy briefly jolted the club. They also dig into Jack Leiter’s leap, where Kumar Rocker stands, the Seager–Semien dynamic, the looming payroll/CBT constraints, potential trade math (who’s movable, who isn’t), and what new manager Skip Schumaker’s C.A.P.E. mantra (Communication, Alignment, Preparation, Execution) could mean in practice. Plus: catcher conundrums, Adolis adjustments, and who Evan would love to see in October.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00:00 - Open & Introductions 00:04:45 - Pitching vs. Hitting 00:09:20 - Ecker → Boone (Hitting Message Shift) 00:13:50 - “Little Rascals” Bump 00:18:05 - Jack Leiter’s Breakthrough 00:22:40 - Kumar Rocker’s Path 00:27:10 - Clubhouse Chemistry 00:31:35 - Catcher Crisis 00:36:00 - Adolis & the OF Puzzle 00:40:10 - Payroll Reality Check 00:44:45 - Trade Talk 00:49:05 - Enter Skip Schumaker (C.A.P.E.) 00:53:20 - Ballpark & Approach (Line Drives > Uphill Swings) 00:58:00 - October Wish List 01:04:00 - Wrap & What’s Next