Like ThomasLynch wrote here, the D’backs have several decent options for the fifth spot in the rotation, so the team wasn’t relying on Skaggs to win the job.

Spring training numbers are largely dismissible. The sample size is so small that it has little bearing on how teams, scouts and fans (should) evaluate players. However, if during that small sample, something changes, mechanically, injury-wise or, for pitchers, velocity wise, that could be concerning.

According to Keith Law during his “Klaw Chat” on ESPN, Skaggs may have shown some dip in velocity during spring training.

As you can see in the screen shot to the right, Keith Law notes just that.

Skaggs’ “velocity wasn’t all there this spring, which isn’t a great sign. At 92-94 with that curveball, he’s a potential #2 [starter.] At 88-91, he’s not,” he wrote in reply to a commenter.

Now, according to BrooksBaseball.net, Skaggs’ average fastball velocity during the spring was actually 91.19, which is higher than his average of 90.23 in 2012. (Remember, the pitch f/x data only accounts for Skaggs’ major league innings.)

So, who to believe? Law and Brooks Baseball contradict one another. And given Skaggs’ results during the spring, I am inclined to lean towards Law.

If Law is accurate, it could mean one of several things. Skaggs could have a minor injury, a major injury, something is wrong mechanically or even just normal drop in velocity during the spring. Some pitchers lose two to four MPH during the spring and gain it back in April. But at the very least, it is concerning.

Skaggs was the centerpiece of the Dan Haren trade to the Angels and the guy the D’backs have to be hoping pans out given their willingness to trade Trevor Bauer.

I remember a few short months ago, the D’backs 2014 projected rotation consisted of Bauer, Skaggs, Jarrod Parker, Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson. Now? Two of those guys were traded, Hudson is recovering from Tommy John surgery, Kennedy has regressed and Skaggs’ future is a little bit less bright.

Who knew I’d be rooting for Edwin Jackson again after his disappointing performance for the D-backs in his stint in Arizona? Image: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE

I am betting that the Arizona Cardinals’ 4-0 start has distracted many Arizona fans from the disappointment of the D-backs’ season; but still, having a team, or individual players, to root for in the playoffs makes watching the playoffs sans the D-backs a tad more fun.

For me, I mostly root for NL teams once the D-backs are eliminated. I’m betting I’m not alone in that. So, who should D-backs fans root for out of the Giants, Reds, Cardinals, Nationals and Braves?

Obviously, the Giants are out. I mean, at least it’s not the Dodgers, but I can never bring myself to rooting for the Giants. I’d say the Cardinals are out. They won the series last year and I can’t imagine the hyperbole if they win again without Albert Pujols. So they’re out.

That leaves the Braves, Nationals and Reds. I could see rooting for the Braves. It is Chipper Jones’ swan song and it would be fun to see him make a run in his last year. But for me, I’ve also seen how the guy tweets (@RealCJ10), and I don’t want any of that in the World Series. Seriously, it’s like he has taken every single baseball cliché and smashed it into a single Twitter handle. I thought that was John Kruk’s job.

So that leaves the Reds and Nationals. I was having a hard time deciding between these two teams until I remembered Mat Latos pitched for the Reds. I  HATE that guy! Nats all the way! Okay, maybe that is purely personal feelings but I don’t care; because, if you DON’T hate that guy, you should!

Besides, the Nationals are just a fun story. They are built for a few years from now probably but their pitching is just way too good and it accelerated their time table. Yes, Stephen Strasburg is not pitching in the playoffs (how asinine is that?), but they still have Jordan Zimmerman, Gio Gonzalez and surprisingly effective Edwin Jackson.

It would just be fun to watch them make a run to the series. Especially if the Orioles provide the second-biggest shock of the season (besides them actually making the playoffs), and meet the Nationals in the World Series. Can you imagine the hysteria in that part of the country? That would just be too much fun to NOT root for it. So, hop on the Nationals bandwagon and get some of the NATitude. On second thought, don’t use the word NATitude. Please. Seriously, stop saying it!

Other guys to root for: Ryan Roberts with the Rays and Jarrod Parker and Ryan Clark of the A’s. Obviously, all three guys were Diamondbacks at one point and I would like to see all of them succeed in the postseason.

Image: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Skaggs has been a big name in the D-backs system for a couple of years (he started the Future’s Game in Phoenix in 2011) after his acquisition in the Dan Haren trade with the Angels.

At the time, Skaggs was only 18 years old and was playing in Low-A. But he has put up impressive numbers at every stop in the minors accumulating a 2.98 ERA and 429 strike outs in only 389 innings in his minor league career.

And since his promotion to Reno earlier this year, he has put up similarly impressive numbers; especially considering how infamous Reno is for being a hitter’s park.

Skaggs owns a 2.91 ERA 45 strike outs and only 16 walks in 52 innings at Reno. His command is to the point that the D-backs should feel confident that he will come up and attack hitters with quality pitches. (Unlike other D-backs uber-prospect Trevor Bauer, who came up earlier this year and couldn’t throw a strike to save his life.)

Skaggs will most likely not make more than one start for the D-backs because of how well Patrick Corbin and Wade Miley have pitched this year, but it could just be a warm up for Skaggs who the D-backs may tab to come out of the bullpen in September like they did with Jarrod Parker last season.

But one thing is certain, if the D-backs give Skaggs the rock for one of the games on Wednesday, fans will want to tune-in to see, perhaps, one-fifths of a deadly D-backs rotation in the years to come with Ian Kennedy, a healthy Daniel Hudson, Trevor Cahill and Miley, Corbin, Skaggs and Archie Bradley waiting in the wings, as well.