Your Dark Companion Podcast

Episode 199 and we’re back to doing what Rangers fans do best: convincing ourselves everything is fine.
Mike Rhyner is joined by Rangers TV’s Mike Bacsik to talk spring training optimism, culture resets under Skip Schumacher, Evan Carter’s redemption arc, and whether the bullpen is “mysterious” or “a fire drill waiting to happen.”
We dive into deGrom and Eovaldi artistry, Jack Leiter’s leap, Kamar Rocker’s question marks, and why Rangers fans somehow survive every season without a defined closer. Again.
Also discussed:• Why spring training is too long (unless you’re a starting pitcher)• Why players should show more personality (please, we’re begging)• Why bullpen roles are basically vibes• Why Nathan Eovaldi might be everyone’s favorite Ranger• Why yes, someone wrestled an alligator in spring training
It’s baseball season. Hope is undefeated. The bullpen? Jury’s out.
Chapters:
00:00 – Baseball Is Back (And So Is Our Anxiety)00:44 – Episode 199 & Spring Training Optimism06:03 – Is Spring Training Way Too Long? (Yes.)10:39 – Alligators, Conditioning, and Peak Florida Energy12:02 – Skip Schumacher and the Culture Reset19:47 – Why Baseball Players Need More Personality23:24 – The Rangers Lineup: Mostly Set, Mostly Healthy27:18 – Evan Carter: Bounce Back Season or Pressure Cooker?30:09 – Bullpen Roulette: Who’s Closing Today?33:22 – Eovaldi vs. deGrom: Two Different Kinds of Dominant42:30 – Leiter vs. Rocker: Development, Expectations & Reality51:10 – Offensive Struggles and Corey Seager’s Importance59:34 – Rangers Network & Fan Engagement1:04:09 – Classic Rangers Pitching Memories1:14:06 – Eric Nadel’s Birthday Benefit & Mental Health Support
Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode: patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion
IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/X: https://x.com/YDC_DfwTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanionFB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445
The Old Grey Wolf: X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolfIG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579
To reach out email us at: Info@Stolenwatermedia.com

Show Notes

Episode 199 and we’re back to doing what Rangers fans do best: convincing ourselves everything is fine.

Mike Rhyner is joined by Rangers TV’s Mike Bacsik to talk spring training optimism, culture resets under Skip Schumacher, Evan Carter’s redemption arc, and whether the bullpen is “mysterious” or “a fire drill waiting to happen.”

We dive into deGrom and Eovaldi artistry, Jack Leiter’s leap, Kamar Rocker’s question marks, and why Rangers fans somehow survive every season without a defined closer. Again.

Also discussed:
• Why spring training is too long (unless you’re a starting pitcher)
• Why players should show more personality (please, we’re begging)
• Why bullpen roles are basically vibes
• Why Nathan Eovaldi might be everyone’s favorite Ranger
• Why yes, someone wrestled an alligator in spring training

It’s baseball season. Hope is undefeated. The bullpen? Jury’s out.

Chapters:

00:00 – Baseball Is Back (And So Is Our Anxiety)
00:44 – Episode 199 & Spring Training Optimism
06:03 – Is Spring Training Way Too Long? (Yes.)
10:39 – Alligators, Conditioning, and Peak Florida Energy
12:02 – Skip Schumacher and the Culture Reset
19:47 – Why Baseball Players Need More Personality
23:24 – The Rangers Lineup: Mostly Set, Mostly Healthy
27:18 – Evan Carter: Bounce Back Season or Pressure Cooker?
30:09 – Bullpen Roulette: Who’s Closing Today?
33:22 – Eovaldi vs. deGrom: Two Different Kinds of Dominant
42:30 – Leiter vs. Rocker: Development, Expectations & Reality
51:10 – Offensive Struggles and Corey Seager’s Importance
59:34 – Rangers Network & Fan Engagement
1:04:09 – Classic Rangers Pitching Memories
1:14:06 – Eric Nadel’s Birthday Benefit & Mental Health Support

Follow Your Dark Companion on Patreon for every episode: 
patreon.com/YourDarkCompanion

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourdarkcompanion/
X: https://x.com/YDC_Dfw
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdarkcompanion
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559876685445

The Old Grey Wolf: 
X: https://x.com/TheOldGreyWolf
IG: https://www.instagram.com/theoldgreywolf16/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikerhyner579

To reach out email us at: Info@Stolenwatermedia.com

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Creators and Guests

Host
Mike Rhyner
Mike Rhyner… "a little on the bumpy side, but rather likable"…so stated famously by a grade school teacher in Oak Cliff, where Mike grew up. A complicated guy, yet a guy who can do long division and remember call strike three to A Rod. Probably best left unattended. Don't expect assistance from him if a medical situation arises.

What is Your Dark Companion Podcast?

"Whatever I want it to be about on a given day; is what it is." Your Dark Companion couples your familiar friends from radio, Mike and Grubes! Mike brings his classic interviews that draw you in, and Grubes—The Devil—drops…well the drops, and throws the occasional grenade. Mike likes to draw on his fascinating acquaintances and friends allowing them to tell their stories as you've never heard them. But he also goes outside his network, sharing Grubes' network, and often outside of both, to bring you those they don't know, but believe have a story that will make you laugh, make you think, think differently, or just entertain you…"that's what we are trying to do here."