Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal said a difficult playoff experience with the Detroit Tigers has made him unafraid of failure. Skubal described his previous two seasons ending in the fifth and final game of an American League Division Series, referencing one specific game as when he "failed on the biggest stage."
That game, Oct. 12, 2024, against the Cleveland Guardians, saw Skubal give up a game-tying, bases-loaded walk and a subsequent grand slam, ultimately leading to the Tigers' elimination. He recalled being devastated for days afterward, unable to watch baseball.
However, upon reflection, Skubal found reasons for pride in his performance. He noted that his pitches were thrown with conviction and that he returned to pitch a scoreless sixth inning. "I’m proud of the way I competed that day," Skubal stated.
He views this past failure as a catalyst for his subsequent success, including winning a second consecutive Cy Young Award the following season. "You don’t want to fail, but when you fail, it just motivates you to work even harder and see how good you can be," Skubal explained. "The way I responded to it is everything."
Skubal's perspective on failure has evolved. "Failure is going to happen. Is it OK? No, but it’s going to happen. It’s life. You’re human. You fail in every job ever. You’re going to fail," he said. "When you fail and when adversity hits you in the face, there’s just a lot of growth to be had from all those things. It only makes you better, so I’m not afraid of it."
Dodgers teammate Clayton Kershaw observed Skubal's eagerness to pitch during the World Baseball Classic, noting that Skubal "wants to pitch" and doesn't solely focus on the potential negative outcomes. Skubal echoed this sentiment, stating, "I think I’m the most prepared player on the field every time I take the field. If I’m going to lose a game, I want it to be in my hands."
He draws parallels to Yoshinobu Yamamoto's performance in the World Series, where Yamamoto started Game 6 and then pitched in relief in Game 7. "If he would have gone out for Game 7 and failed, no one in here would have [cared] because he gave everything he had," Skubal said. "That’s all you can ask out of a teammate. That’s all you can ask out of yourself."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has noticed Skubal's mindset. "He’s built differently," Roberts commented, highlighting Skubal's focus, humility, and how he "puts himself out there."