YANKEES MOVING ON FROM LAZZERI
For the past twelve seasons the name Tony Lazzeri has regularly been penciled in as the New York Yankees starting second baseman. However, after the 34 year old endured his least productive major league season (.257/.358/.397) last year it appears the Yankees are ready to turn the job over to 26 year old Don Heffner. Lazzeri, who also struggled defensively a year ago, is expected to remain with the team as a reserve infielder but it appears Heffner, who hit .313 in a limited role last season and provided superior defense, has won the job for Opening Day.
Lazzeri has played 1,677 career major league games - all in a Yankee uniform - and is a .292 career hitter. He has over 1,800 career hits and 165 homeruns and certainly has to be considered the greatest Yankee second baseman while playing a key role on World Series winning teams in 1927, 1928 and 1932. However, he hit just .162 in the past two World Series and was part of a New York batting order that struggled mightily vs the Cardinals this past October.
The Yankees have enjoyed great success in the American League each of the past two seasons, posting a 211-97 record during that time and winning back to back pennants. However, the World Series has been a different story as the Yankees, despite a dominant offense and 3 outstanding pitchers in Lefty Gomez, Red Ruffing and Johnny Broaca, came up empty on both attempts as they lost to the Giants in 6 games two years ago and to St Louis in 5 last October.
So far it has been very quiet out of New York on the trade front with no player transactions made at all, but one has to think something much bigger than just replacing Lazzeri in the starting lineup with Heffner has to occur for the Yankees to avoid another October collapse.