What was the reason behind the Yankees taking Cito Culver with their first round pick?

Klaw: They loved his makeup, knew the kid inside and out, scouted him extremely heavily, and felt that he’s a switch-hitting shortstop with a plus arm and a chance for average or slightly above-average power. I don’t quite share that optimism, based not so much on my own notes from seeing him last summer but more on what other teams are telling me.

I’m starting to come around on Culver after buying some spin. Is there something to be said for the Yankees knowing this kid better than other teams’ scouts because of his location? I don’t know what to think of this.

Klaw:Just following up – I have never liked the take-the-local-kid philosophy. That’s how the Pirates ended up with Neil Walker. Sometimes it works, and if you’re the Angels or Braves the local kid is often pretty good, but that can’t be your primary rationale for taking a player if you’re north of the Mason-Dixon line.

Aren’t the “other teams” talking you about Culver somewhat biased? I think you’re better off sticking with your own notes.

Klaw:Biased by what? This includes all the area scouts up here who told me this spring not to burn a trip to see Culver again.

This kid is 17 and hasn’t played a day of pro baseball (yet). Howza ’bout we give him 3 or 4 years and see what happens? All that said, KG at BP was honest that he knew nothing about the guy, Mike A. gave some interesting information, and I haven’t read KLaw’s take yet. I think its a wee bit early to be concerned – and easy to forget that even the most knowledgeable of the draft pundits don’t know everything either!

UPDATE, 11:38 p.m.: On the idea of waiting for him to fall into the second round: “The thought crossed my mind and I’m glad I didn’t, because after we did pick him I got a call from one of our competitors who’s very successful, saying he would not have gotten to us.”

via LoHud, of course.

[12] I was really just making a joke about Gammons, who has a wee bit of a blind spot when it comes to Red Sox prospects …

[16] Why is it pretty damning? Klaw has admitted to knowing very little about him and the BA list is really an aggregation. I’d like to think the Yankees do their own scouting and don’t pick off the lists of third-party sources.

The fantastic 2006 draft looks more and more like an outlier every year.

2nd day of the draft starts at noon.

Hughes pitches tonite.

Strasburg debuts tonite.

Stanton debuts tonite.

Gonna be a lot of switching around on MLB.tv today!

It is odd to call the pick an overdraft and then say you need to talk to those who have seen him play. Sounds like putting the cart before the horse.

[9] My 1992 Derek Jeter rookie card points out that back then, the Cap was clocked at 88 mph across the diamond.

In this case, Culver is far enough off the normal path that many of the national guys won’t have seen him play in person, they’ll be going off tape. Obviously, that’s not the case for the Yankees.

In any case, the draft didn’t end with pick #50 but rather round #50 and even then, there’s still the International portion to consider.

He’s what, 17, 18? give him about 5 years in the minors and then let him be Jeter’s replacement.

I can accept criticism from someone who has actually seen these kids play, but it seems silly to critique the draft from behind a keyboard.

Lombardi on the other hand, shows once again he’s a reactionary asshat.