Evan Grant on 28 Seasons with the Rangers, Modern Sportswriting & Fair Food Adventures

📅 Disclaimer:
This episode was recorded live at the Sunset Lounge on October 7, 2024.
🎧 Episode Description:
In this live episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner sits down with longtime Dallas Morning News baseball writer Evan Grant, whose nearly three decades covering the Texas Rangers have made him one of the most trusted voices in sports journalism.
The two dive deep into the evolution of baseball coverage—from the gritty pre-social media days to today’s content-heavy, access-restricted world. Evan breaks down the Rangers’ 2024 season, sharing insights on player injuries, roster issues, and why this season felt uniquely challenging.
But it’s not all baseball. Evan also opens up about family life, his love of cooking, navigating personal downtime, and the strange joy of State Fair food. It’s an episode full of heart, humor, and hardball, served up live from the Sunset Lounge.
⏱️ Chapters:
0:00 – Smoky Rose BBQ & Upcoming Events Kick Things Off
2:04 – Baseball Talk, Lightning Strikes & Social Media Frustrations
4:32 – Unplugging from Baseball: Travel and Offseason Balance
6:32 – How Journalism Has Shifted in the Digital Age
10:41 – Covering Sports Post-COVID: New Rules, New Norms
17:23 – Respect & Boundaries in the Modern Clubhouse
21:03 – Remembering John Blake’s Impact on Rangers Media
25:07 – From Newspaper Intern to 28-Year Beat Veteran
30:18 – Lessons & Legacy from the Late Jerry Fraley
38:14 – Injury Impact: What Went Wrong with the 2024 Rangers
42:24 – Cody Bradford’s Ceiling and Pitching Depth Questions
43:53 – Roster Gaps and Challenges in the Outfield
49:42 – Evan’s Culinary Curiosity: Social Media & Food Experiments
54:03 – Fried Fair Food, Risky Recipes & Taste Tests
58:51 – Finding Joy in Late-Life Relationships & Step-Parenting
1:06:43 – Closing from the Sunset Lounge with One Last Toast
📚 Resources:
Evan Grant’s Articles – https://www.dallasnews.com/author/evan-grant/
Follow Evan on Twitter/X: @Evan_P_Grant
⚾️ For Rangers fans, aspiring writers, and foodies alike, this is one of the most well-rounded conversations you’ll hear this season. Subscribe now to Your Dark Companion for more episodes that mix insight with personality.
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