First, let me note that Keith Law is not a journalist by trade; he was formerly a writer for Baseball Prospectus and worked in the front office for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He covered the first round of yesterday's draft for ESPN where, it seems, the Red Sox, with three picks, did very well and the Yankees, it seems, took a projected 3rd or 4th round pick with their first round selection.
"The Boston Red Sox took advantage of falling guys as well, landing my No. 10, Bryce Brentz, in the sandwich round. Conventional wisdom on Brentz's struggles this year was that he got a little draft-itis, trying to hit for power at the expense of his overall hit tool, but whatever the reason, he came out of last summer as a likely top-10 pick and the Red Sox were wise to remember that. Similarly, they popped preseason No. 2 prospect Anthony Ranaudo in the sandwich round, and they'll have time now to get comfortable with the state of his elbow before committing what would likely be a top-five-overall bonus if they sign him. At No. 20, they took Kolbrin Vitek, an athletic college hitter with some risk -- he needs to move to the outfield and we don't have wood bat looks at him from past summers -- but the potential upside of an above-average glove in center who provides value with the bat."
"The New York Yankees also drew some surprised reactions by taking prep shortstop Cito Culver in the first round -- I was doubly confused when he was listed on MLB.com as a right-handed pitcher -- when the Northeast area scouts were telling me all spring he was a third-or fourth-rounder. The Yankees see Culver as a shortstop with a chance to hit for average and some power, and he has a plus arm, but there are mixed opinions on whether or not he's going to stay at short."
