Skubal Settles In with the Dodgers

Tarik Skubal seems to be finding his footing with the Dodgers, both on the field and in the clubhouse.

On Saturday, he had his best performance yet, pitching seven innings and striking out 11 players in a close 4-3 win against the Pirates. This victory marked his first official win with Los Angeles after being traded from the Tigers just ahead of the deadline.

He’s also integrating well into the Dodgers’ clubhouse, as evidenced by his new nickname, “Scooby Doo Pa Pa,” which was given to him by Miguel Rojas.

“Absolutely,” Skubal responded when asked if he liked being called “Scooby Doo Pa Pa” during a post-game interview.

Comments like “SCOOBY DOO PA PA!!!” from teammate Kike Hernandez on one of Skubal’s recent Instagram posts really highlight the team’s excitement about their new member.

“I think it’s great,” Skubal noted. “It’s funny and lighthearted. Rojas is really good at those types of things… especially when it comes to starting pitchers. He tends to orchestrate some fun routines before games. It stuck after he came up with it on the bus.”

He also mentioned that they play the tune associated with his nickname for every strikeout, which he finds amusing. “I got some video of my boys dancing to it before today’s game, too. That was pretty funny. Yeah, it’s really good.”

The nickname comes from a playful connection between Skubal’s last name and the iconic cartoon dog, Scooby Doo. The “Pa Pa” addition likely reflects Rojas’ creative sense of humor.

Getting a nickname from teammates is often a sign of camaraderie. This affection, it seems, could help Skubal feel fully at home with his new team.