# Cutters are Hard: Paul Skenes & Tarik Skubal

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/sources-tell-jeff-passan-7803482/cutters-are-hard-paul-skenes-tarik-skubal
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/sources-tell-jeff-passan-7803482/cutters-are-hard-paul-skenes-tarik-skubal.md
Podcast: [Sources Tell Jeff Passan](https://stenobird.com/podcast/sources-tell-jeff-passan-7803482)
Published: 2026-04-14T13:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP4245870791.mp3?updated=1776191636
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP4245870791.mp3?updated=1776191636
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sources-tell-jeff-passan-7803482/episodes/cutters-are-hard-paul-skenes-tarik-skubal
Duration seconds: 2895

## Resource

It’s the inaugural episode of Sources Tell with Jeff Passan — and he’s starting big. Jeff sits down with reigning Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes for an honest, inside-the-mind-of-an-ace conversation. They break down the art of pitching, their go-to weapons, and how they know when they’re completely locked in. Plus, they settle the debate: what’s harder — pitching or hitting in MLB? (0:00) Welcome to the show! (3:20) What’s harder, hitting or pitching? (6:15) Easiest pitch to throw (10:35) Velocity or control? (12:35) When you know you have command (15:25) Paul’s demeanor vs Tarik’s emotions (18:45) College careers (19:45) Pitchers developing later in career (20:45) Me vs. me (23:55) Spa days (25:35) Tarik’s complete game (29:25) Rounding up (30:30) Paul’s complete game loss (31:38) Failure (34:10) Favorite mound visit (35:10) Paul launching sweeper out of the stadium (37:55) Best pitch in baseball (40:25) Cutters are hard (41:00) Future of pitching (44:55) And the verdict is… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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## Transcript

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