2010 Yankees first round draft pick: Cito Culver HS SS

[indianyanksfan]

I tried to warn people it wouldn't be a BA draft. I'm sure we'll find out why they had him rated above Lipka in the next day or so. We certainly do need shortstops.

i guess there were bigger names. just was wondering why the other talents werent selected unless they were going to be tough signs.
maybe this guy will be a tough sign and they can keep this pick next year?

[DWells4prez]

How the hell would I know? I just know what everyone else here knows. The guy was rated where in the top 100? Was he even in the top 100?

Exactly, way to prove my point. YOU DON'T KNOW! No one knows where this guy was rated on all teams draft boards. The Top 100 is compiled by people who have no where near the amount of resources as the Yankees.

Stop complaining just because he wasn't on BA's top 100. That list in reality means absolutely nothing when piecing together the top talent as they don't actually see the players themselves, they just get second hand / third hand information and compile a list based off that. Its not their own evaluations.

[DRobertsonNYY]

How the hell would I know? I just know what everyone else here knows. The guy was rated where in the top 100? Was he even in the top 100?

Thanks for the signature. You just described the NYYFans board every draft night.

[DWells4prez]

rappa, I think to say its amazing this caused shock is absolute homerism.
I reserve judgement on this, but the track record in recent years with surprise position players is scary, and for once I think most of the over reaction is understandable. I was speechless.

Having said all that, I'm willing to bet they thought someone (Minnesota maybe based on one article) would have taken him soon, and if we can pop a prospect out from under their noses, then maybe we are doing something right.

But looking at who they let slide by, they better be right. There is no excuse here, it was a brave choice given what was on the table, and they'll be correctly villified if its a failure.

I'm not gonna sit here and say when the name was announced I wasn't shocked. I will sit here and say that just because I didn't know who he was at the time, doesn't mean he's garbage like most of the posters around here. The Yankees have over 8 different scouts look at people they have rated atop their boards, and possibly even more then that, so I'm willing to reserve judgment until after he starts playing for them, instead of going off bullish reports that are so varied and usually far from the truth.

[Matsui55]

From what I read, this is a project pick. This dude is athlethic as hell and also raw. I could see him developing into a very good prospect. Power is always a very hard thing to project.

That being said they probably could have got him with their next pick.

I would note that over on PP, Oppenheimer said their draft board would look different. He also said that the Yanks scouts considered the North to have a lot of value this year.

There is also a budget issue- there is a fixed budget this year. If you blow the whole kitty on the first guy, you get scraps with the rest of the draft.

With this guy, you get a player who has the upside of being a solid middle INF, for a price that is likely a fraction of what some of the "name" guy will ask for. In addition, the Yanks get to save millions to spread out over those guys picked in the 8-20 round range- the draft is a hit-or-miss proposition anyway- sign more guys with talent to increase your odds.

I wonder if this is a sign that the Yanks are gaining confidence in thier positional coaching in extended ST and instructional leagues?

[Hughes2.50]

1.32 New York Yankees - Cito Culver, SS, West Irondequoit HS (NY)

Mlbbonusbaby-xl_tiny by Andy Seiler on Jun 7, 2010 9:59 PM EDT Comment 0 comments

The Yankees selected Cito Culver. Here's his profile:



Cito Culver Position: RHP/OF School: West Irondequoit HS State: NY Height: 6’2’’ Weight: 175

Bats: B Throws: R Birth Date: 8/26/92 Seiler Rating: 2C1 Commitment: Maryland
Cito Culver is a young two-way prospect from Rochester, New York. Culver generates draft interest at three different positions, making him one of the more intriguing draft prospects in the 2010 prep class. At the plate, he’s a switch-hitter with solid strength, and he projects to be an above-average hitter for average in the future, probably sitting somewhere in the .275-.285 range if things work out well. He needs to work on his balance at the plate, but as a cold-weather hitter, he’s less refined than a lot of prospects, but he also has more room to improve than others, too. I don’t project him for anything more than below-average power, possibly reaching 10 home runs in his peak. On defense, there’s a split over whether he’ll be an outfielder or a shortstop. However, he might have to move off shortstop or center field, as he’s already a fringe-average runner. He has a solid-average arm for shortstop, and an above-average arm for center field, so it all comes down to the range factor. I’d probably keep him at shortstop until he outgrows it. Culver also has even more mound potential, though he’s probably a reliever on that side of things. He throws an 87-91 mph fastball from a true three-quarters arm slot that gets good arm-side run, and he’s gained a couple of ticks on it this spring. His changeup is his best offspeed pitch, though it projects as solid-average at best, and his curveball rates as a future average pitch. He has a higher ceiling as a hitter, though some might disagree with that assertion. Culver fits best in the fourth to sixth round range, and he was only a late signee with Maryland, making him an attractive signable prep bat or arm.

Found this....

But really, hard to believe this guy wouldn't have been available later. I'm perplexed...

I really like that he is that young - he won't be 18 for two more months. That is part of the projection the Yankees see - along with those instincts athleticism and ability to play shortstop up the ladder.

[IrishYankee]

And that sentiment is valid. You just can't expect everyone to be as cool headed as that. Patience isn't exactly bountiful on any discussion board

[Dexter Morgan]

The words "utility player" in a scouting report for a first rounder. If that doesn't make you cringe....

[Rocketbooster]

YankeesWFAN NYY official on Culver: “Real easy, smooth way about him, game’s not too fast for him.” Switch-hitting SS with good arm.
1 minute ago via web

Sounds like a million different scouting reports.........Where's the stick?

[flymick24]

I'm not gonna sit here and say when the name was announced I wasn't shocked. I will sit here and say that just because I didn't know who he was at the time, doesn't mean he's garbage like most of the posters around here. The Yankees have over 8 different scouts look at people they have rated atop their boards, and possibly even more then that, so I'm willing to reserve judgment until after he starts playing for them, instead of going off bullish reports that are so varied and usually far from the truth.

this is a huge misnomer... no one is hating the player, people are simply hating the slot in which he was picked

[AcidLake]

i just friend reqeuested on him in facebook

i mean at least i'll be going to the same school he's committed to

[Matsui55]

The words "utility player" in a scouting report for a first rounder. If that doesn't make you cringe....

Talk about cherry picking for something to justify your instant negative impression. Never mind that BA relies on that old saw "some scouts say"

[Rocketbooster]

YankeesWFAN Culver not high in mock drafts, but lots of NYY personnel saw him, like what they saw. Geography hurt his nat’l exposure, but good tools

[ej877]

As fans, and followers of the draft process, our only means of feeling any connection with this draft process is by reading the information that is out there and forming our own opinions based on the available information.

There has to be at least some reaction to a surprise pick like this by those of us whom have ingested the more commonly circulated information.

This is especially stunning when there were a fair number of players available who seemed to have dropped into the organizations collective lap,

then to subsequently see those same players drafted by our rivals...

Of course none of us have any influence over the proceedings, so all we have left is to react to the pick, and hope they can be aggressive in the later rounds.

I hope Cito Culver has a long and successful career, wherever that may be.

[DWells4prez]

this is a huge misnomer... no one is hating the player, people are simply hating the slot in which he was picked

Those 2 coincide with one another.....I'm sure if we picked say Allie and he flamed out in 3 years people would still LOVE the pick, simply because he was rated #14 on BA's board, ha.

[Matsui55]

Those 2 coincide with one another.....I'm sure if we picked say Allie and he flamed out in 3 years people would still LOVE the pick, simply because he was rated #14 on BA's board, ha.

I would note that for all the love Allie got here, he did NOT even get picked in the sandwich round.

[flymick24]

Those 2 coincide with one another.....I'm sure if we picked say Allie and he flamed out in 3 years people would still LOVE the pick, simply because he was rated #14 on BA's board, ha.

even if allie flamed out in three years, you'd still have to admit that he was a steal at 32 in the 2010 draft

culver is not a steal, by most reports he would have been available in the later rounds, yet the yankees drafted him probably because they were playing it cheap this year and knew he would sign according to slot

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

I would note that for all the love Allie got here, he did NOT even get picked in the sandwich round.

I've been thinking that too.

This kid is likely going to take time to develop -- cold-weather HS player, didn't focus on baseball. Hopefully they are right about the raw talent

[DRobertsonNYY]

BA would be proud of this board.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

even if allie flamed out in three years, you'd still have to admit that he was a steal at 32 in the 2010 draft

culver is not a steal, by most reports he would have been available in the later rounds, yet the yankees drafted him probably because they were playing it cheap this year and knew he would sign according to slot

How are you a steal if you don't make it to MLB? At this point, there have been 50 picks and no one has selected him. A guy is a steal because BA told us he should be a top 20 pick?

If the Yankees wanted to stick to slot, they still would have had a lot of options. They may have missed here, but I am going to wait till the guy proves it rather than proclaim the pick a failure because the pundits didn't rank him highly?

[ICEBERG18]

“We were able to draft a very athletic kid who can play a good shortstop,” said Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees Vice President of Amateur Scouting. “He has a plus arm, is a solid runner and is an excellent hitter. He’s a player we are happy to have. It was an easy decision for us.”

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/06/0...t-cito-culver/

[DRobertsonNYY]

How are you a steal if you don't make it to MLB? At this point, there have been 50 picks and no one has selected him. A guy is a steal because BA told us he should be a top 20 pick?

If the Yankees wanted to stick to slot, they still would have had a lot of options. They may have missed here, but I am going to wait till the guy proves it rather than proclaim the pick a failure because the pundits didn't rank him highly?

He is a steal because somebody on the Internet said so.

C'mon dude, pay attention!

[2PhonesMaccabee]

I've been thinking that too.

This kid is likely going to take time to develop -- cold-weather HS player, didn't focus on baseball. Hopefully they are right about the raw talent

Serious question: Does it take longer for guys from cold weather high schools to develop?

[flymick24]

How are you a steal if you don't make it to MLB? At this point, there have been 50 picks and no one has selected him. A guy is a steal because BA told us he should be a top 20 pick?

If the Yankees wanted to stick to slot, they still would have had a lot of options. They may have missed here, but I am going to wait till the guy proves it rather than proclaim the pick a failure because the pundits didn't rank him highly?

this is the most retarded argument ever because we're assuming allie flames out in three years... i can come out and say just as easily that he doesn't flame out and actually goes on to have a HOF career while culver goes the way of angellini... see how easy that is?

at this point, no one knows what's going to happen, but the best reference we as the lay-people have to go by are rankings, which are based on reports from scouts who've seen more from these players than we ever will... how exactly is it wrong for us to place stock in those rankings?

i hate that people are suddenly playing thread police because a few of us really don't like the pick... those that are taking the "cool-headed, i'm going to take the wait and see approach" either have their heads in the sand or are being disingenuous

[flymick24]

He is a steal because somebody on the Internet said so.

C'mon dude, pay attention!

keep on keeping on, dude... your act is giving me a good laugh for the night

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

Serious question: Does it take longer for guys from cold weather high schools to develop?

They generally get to play a lot less, and the league in warmer climates get a lot more attention

[Hughes2.50]

Another article and some video on Culver.

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/spo...sity/?ap=1&MP4

[Tonyf629]

I posted this in the draft thread,

At this time, Culver reminds me of a more athletic Pedro Alvarez, but obviously not as polished as the former 1st rounder was coming out of Vanderbilt - that could change over a few years of college ball. His swing from the left is very similar and offers power, he could hang in the middle infield but given he will more than likely bulk up a bit a move to third or the OF is not out of question.

http://fourseamimages.mlblogs.com/ar...-prospect.html

[DRobertsonNYY]

Yankees have more scouts than BA. Yankees thought it was a good pick. I mean, it's not rocket science people.

[DRobertsonNYY]

Another article and some video on Culver.

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/spo...sity/?ap=1&MP4

Sure looks like a slap hitter there.

[Hughes2.50]

They generally get to play a lot less, and the league in warmer climates get a lot more attention

Notheasterner's tend to not get to play as much as southerners and westerner because of the weather. Because of that they can be less developed than players elsewhere. You can look at Mike Trout (Angels first pick last year) and see how well they can take off once they start playing everyday.

[flymick24]

Yankees have more scouts than BA. Yankees thought it was a good pick. I mean, it's not rocket science people.

yankees scouts loved c.j. henry too... two sides to every coin

[DRobertsonNYY]

yankees scouts loved c.j. henry too... two sides to every coin

Please just stop talking. Every team has failed 1st round picks.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

this is the most retarded argument ever because we're assuming allie flames out in three years... i can come out and say just as easily that he doesn't flame out and actually goes on to have a HOF career while culver goes the way of angellini... see how easy that is?

at this point, no one knows what's going to happen, but the best reference we as the lay-people have to go by are rankings, which are based on reports from scouts who've seen more from these players than we ever will... how exactly is it wrong for us to place stock in those rankings?

i hate that people are suddenly playing thread police because a few of us really don't like the pick... those that are taking the "cool-headed, i'm going to take the wait and see approach" either have their heads in the sand or are being disingenuous

Great, so we need to make a decision tonight on what kind of player this kid is going to be? My point is more that, for all the griping on here, Allie is still around and 50 picks have gone by. That doesn't say that, maybe some of those reports were misguided, or perhaps some teams blew a little smoke when talking to the pundits? For all those scouts said about him, he is still on the board -- that says more to me than the rankings do.

This pick didn't thrill me, but I am pretty sure they guys who made it know more about the prospects than anyone on this board.

[R.V.47]

Seems like the yanks really like this guys athleticism but hes somewhat of a raw talent. Not the worst thing in the world because guys like that are easier to mold and teach the way coaches in the minor leagues want him to go about things. However, baseball is a game that requires some degree of natural talent and gifts. Hopefully hes got a long career ahead of him and can help the yanks at some point. If not? then hes just part of the other majority of guys who dont make it.

[flymick24]

Please just stop talking. Every team has failed 1st round picks.

like i said before, i'm sure you loved this pick from the start, right? or are you just drinking the pinstriped koolaid as usual?

[Mark19]

I'd be interested to hear how he compared to Angelini and Lassiter

[DaBliz]

Oh No The Yankees Chose A Player I Don't Know Over A Player I Also Don't Know That Much About

[flymick24]

Great, so we need to make a decision tonight on what kind of player this kid is going to be? My point is more that, for all the griping on here, Allie is still around and 50 picks have gone by. That doesn't say that, maybe some of those reports were misguided, or perhaps some teams blew a little smoke when talking to the pundits? For all those scouts said about him, he is still on the board -- that says more to me than the rankings do.

This pick didn't thrill me, but I am pretty sure they guys who made it know more about the prospects than anyone on this board.

the draft and scouting in general is an inexact science... people have a right to hate this pick just as much as people hated c.j. henry and jeremy bleich at the time

but as usual, there will always be people who go with the "the yankees scouts are better than everyone else's" argument

[flymick24]

Oh No The Yankees Chose A Player I Don't Know Over A Player I Also Don't Know That Much About

it's ok, it's not the end of the world, my friend

[YESSIR!]

I'd be interested to hear how he compared to Angelini and Lassiter

Three times a charm.

[DRobertsonNYY]

like i said before, i'm sure you loved this pick from the start, right? or are you just drinking the pinstriped koolaid as usual?

i give the yankees the benefit of the doubt, you know, the defending champion new york yankees, with 12 homegrown guys on their world championship roster.

yeah, i drink pinstripe koolaid. jim callis didn't have him in his top 100, omg!

he's horrible!!!

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

the draft and scouting in general is an inexact science... people have a right to hate this pick just as much as people hated c.j. henry and jeremy bleich at the time

but as usual, there will always be people who go with the "the yankees scouts are better than everyone else's" argument

Giving them credit for knowing more than the folks on a message board is a bit different than giving them credit for being better than other MLB team's scouts

[DRobertsonNYY]

the draft and scouting in general is an inexact science... people have a right to hate this pick just as much as people hated c.j. henry and jeremy bleich at the time

but as usual, there will always be people who go with the "the yankees scouts are better than everyone else's" argument

Yankees look real bad on the Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes picks, don't they? People hated those picks at the time as well.

See, I can play this game just as good buddy

[Hughes2.50]

I posted this in the draft thread,



http://fourseamimages.mlblogs.com/ar...-prospect.html

I hope he doesn't grow out of the shortstop position. He is very young, and I'm hoping although he might get stronger, he won't lose the quickness and agility for ss.

[YESSIR!]

Another article and some video on Culver.

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/spo...sity/?ap=1&MP4

I liked this video. I hope it translates.

[flymick24]

Yankees look real bad on the Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes picks, don't they? People hated those picks at the time as well.

See, I can play this game just as good buddy

i don't know what your'e talking about, i loved the hughes and chamberlain picks... hated kennedy though

thanks for playing... FAIL

[DRobertsonNYY]

6'1, 180, SS. 17 years old, HS SS. Great defense, projectable offense.

Who wants to bet if he was a Boras client, everybody would be all over him.

[DRobertsonNYY]

i don't know what your'e talking about, i loved the hughes and chamberlain picks... hated kennedy though

thanks for playing... FAIL

i'm not talking about you in particular. i'm talked about the whole fanbase. joba was a college pitcher and was not a big enough risk according to most fans. and hughes had too straight of a fastball.

get over it, your trying to be funny and yankee hating act is getting way old.

[NYCrusader]

6'1, 180, SS. 17 years old, HS SS. Great defense, projectable offense.

Who wants to bet if he was a Boras client, everybody would be all over him.

But he's not , so what's the point??