Tarik Skubal's latest Dodgers start brings back frustrating Tigers ALDS flashbacks

Tarik Skubal has been trying to play to all crowds for some time now. Last year, before arbitration figures were exchanged between him and the Tigers, he embarked on a publicity spree across Michigan, showing up everywhere from Michigan State basketball games to Pistons games and receiving adulation wherever he went. Just a few weeks later, fans had reason to feel a little differently about him and that tour.

After leaving for the Dodgers, he kept the door open to returning to the Tigers in free agency, saying he hoped they were involved in those conversations. But he's also really trying to appeal to his new employers.

In the postgame interview following his latest start for LA on Sunday, Skubal was critical of how long he's been able to go during games. He went six in his team debut, five the next, and six in his most recent. He never gave up more than three runs in any of them, but the Dodgers lost the first two.

A certain kind of Tigers fan was quick to take exception to these statements, arguing they were a far cry from Skubal's comments on being taken out of Game 5 of the ALDS after six innings last season.

"Trust me, I've seen a lot of the stuff that fans are disappointed or whatever. It's just the way the game of baseball is. It's just baseball. I'm going to go out there and compete and give it everything I had," he said last year. "I knew my outing was kind of coming to a close [after six]."

Tarik Skubal's harsh self-criticism with Dodgers isn't a great look after exit in Tigers' ALDS loss

Fans have been upset about Skubal's longevity in Game 5 basically ever since it ended and the Tigers went home for the rest of October. Some have used it as an excuse not to be upset he was traded, or to pretend that the Tigers were better off without him. This was easy enough to rebuke last year — after all, if the guy was gassed, why leave him in to potentially make matters worse? The Tigers offense was the real culprit that day.

That can still be true, but when you hold up Skubal being so upset about his performance in a regular season game for the Dodgers, versus his verbal equivalent of a shrug after being eliminated from the postseason with the Tigers ... it doesn't come across well, to say the least.

Skubal's 109 pitches on Sunday marked a career high. AJ Hinch didn't let him throw more than 96 in any start for the Tigers this season. There may be some difference in managerial styles here between Hinch and Dave Roberts, but Skubal made his exit from Game 5 seem like a mutual decision between him and Hinch.

It's still true that the Tigers lost Game 5 for almost every reason apart from Skubal's one-run start. But it's not fun to hear him start really buckling down the second he goes to the Dodgers.

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