Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker joins Mike Rhyner and Woodsey (Ben & Woods Show, San Diego) for a lively, honest, and at times hilarious look into baseball, leadership, and life in the big leagues.

Skip talks about his path from player to manager, lessons learned under Tony La Russa, and what it takes to build a real clubhouse culture. The guys dig into the Rangers’ rollercoaster season, the difference between coaching and managing, and what Skip’s bringing to Arlington.

It’s part baseball masterclass, part barroom storytelling—classic Your Dark Companion energy.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00:00 – Intro: Mike Rhyner welcomes Skip Schumaker & Woodsey 00:01:33 – How Skip fell into coaching and learned the game from the other side 00:02:50 – Lessons from Tony La Russa & how bench roles shaped his mindset 00:04:19 – The DH debate: Has baseball changed for better or worse? 00:05:30 – Who influenced Skip’s baseball brain the most 00:07:17 – Skip’s radio connection with Woodsey and Ben & Woods Show 00:11:39 – How Skip’s long ties led him to the Texas Rangers 00:15:27 – Working alongside Bruce Bochy as a senior advisor 00:19:10 – Why Texas was Skip’s #1 choice & family ties to TCU 00:21:26 – Building a clubhouse culture from Day One 00:23:53 – Why culture wins games & why staff chemistry matters 00:25:44 – The kind of people Skip wants in the organization 00:26:30 – The Rangers’ frustrating 2024 season – what went wrong? 00:30:22 – Skip’s pitching philosophy: command beats velocity 00:32:24 – October baseball – pressure, preparation, and playoff mentality 00:35:06 – Pitching evolution: velocity vs. control in modern MLB 00:38:18 – The Rangers bullpen & the power of command 00:39:33 – Building chemistry through communication 00:41:50 – Hotel-bar lessons with Tony La Russa 🍷 00:42:50 – Padres talk: culture, chemistry, and what went wrong in San Diego 00:46:19 – Would Skip ever have imagined managing the Rangers? 00:48:42 – Closing thoughts, friendships, and managing with gratitude

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📺 Your Dark Companion 🎙️ Hosted by Mike Rhyner 💬 Guest: Skip Schumaker – Manager, Texas Rangers 🎧 Featuring Woodsey (Ben & Woods Show, San Diego)

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