Minor League Ball Gameday, April 8

Good afternoon prospect watchers. Here is today's Minor League Ball Gameday Discussion thread for your enjoyment, entertainment, and edification.

COOL STUFF THAT HAPPENED ON APRIL 7

***I'd say that the major league debut of Miami Marlins future ace Jose Fernandez went quite well, wouldn't you? Michael Jong at Fishstripes has a complete, must-read analysis. Go read that right now. We'll wait for you.

***Yesterday's gameday discussion thread has plenty of highlights. Don't forget Chris Slade's look at the weekend in college baseball.

***Three pitchers for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the Low-A Midwest League combined for a no-hitter, leading the Minnesota Twins farm team to a 9-1 victory over the Beloit Snappers. Tyler Duffey fanned seven over seven innings, before turning things over to lefty Josue Montanez in the eighth and closer Tim Atherton in the ninth. Duffey was a fifth round pick out of Rice University in 2012. He relieved in college but the Twins are developing him as a starting pitcher.

***Fellow Kernel and Minnesota's first round pick last June, Byron Buxton, continues to rip at the plate, going 4-for-5 and falling a home run shy of the cycle. So far, he's hitting .563/.611/.938 through four games.

***Mets prospect Noah Syndergaard threw four shutout innings for High-A St. Lucie, fanning five.

***Oakland Athletics prospect Sonny Gray threw six shutout innings for Triple-A Sacramento, holding Las Vegas to two hits. He walked three, but fanned four.

***Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect Ross Stripling threw five shutout innings for High-A Rancho Cucamonga, allowing one hit and one walk against Lake Elsinore, fanning four. Stripling has a very advanced sense for pitching and I don't think he'll be hanging around the California League very long.

***Seattle Mariners prospect Julio Morban went 3-for-5 for Double-A Jackson and is hitting .533/.563/.867 in his first four games. He hit a home run, as did teammate Brad Miller.

MATCH-UPS TO WATCH ON APRIL 8

***Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi takes the mound for Durham against Omar Poveda and Gwinnet in Triple-A International League action this evening.

***Another interesting International League game involves Cincinnati Reds pitching prospect Dan Corcino of Louisville going up against David Huff and Columbus.

***Another top Rays pitching prospect, Taylor Guerrieri, goes to the mound for Bowling Green against Lansing and Toronto Blue Jays prospect Daniel Norris in Midwest League action.

***Can Tyler Matzek throw strikes in Double-A? Find out when the erratic Rockies prospect takes the mound for Tulsa against Corpus Christi and Astros prospect Jake Buchanan.

LINKS OF INTEREST

***Did you read Fishstripes on Jose Fernandez?. Yes I already linked to that, but if you haven't read it, you don't have an excuse now since I've linked to it again.

***Trevor Bauer's start for the Cleveland Indians didn't go as well as Fernandez's debut for the Marlins. Bauer did some moving around on the rubber depending on who was hitting.

***Over at The Atlantic, Derek Thompson explains why cable and TV networks are throwing money at Major League Baseball despite a sharp decline in viewership over the last five years. Thompson explains the paradox. Do you agree with him?