It’s time for baseball to push back its trade deadline. This July 31st line in the sand is an outdated relic from an era when free agency didn’t exist and only two teams made the post season, which was the case up until 1969. That year the field was expanded to 4 with the divisional winner format and since has been expanded to its current number of 10. With that many spots for post season available, it makes no sense to force teams to decide in July if they still have a chance to make it to the playoffs. Furthermore, historically, more than a few teams have lost considerable leads after the deadline beginning with the 1951 Dodgers, which had a 13.5 game lead in August, only to do what they do and choke the lead away to my Giants and eventually lose a 3 game playoff on Bobby Thomson’s famous 9th inning walk off homer. But this is not about picking on the Dodgers (they blew it again to my Giants in 62 and to the Padres in 96) because there are many more examples: 69 Cubs, 95 Angels, 2011 Braves and Red Sox. The 1964 Phillies had a 6 game lead with 12 left over the Cardinals in September. They were so confident, as the legend goes, that they started to sell World Series tickets only to collapse and have to burn them. Then there is the other case such as the 2012 Phillies who traded Hunter Pence to my Giants and Shane Victorino to the Red Sox only to get red hot in August and September and just miss the playoffs. Pushing the deadline back to August 15 is a win-win for all involved. Teams maintain fan interests, players and agents get more time to negotiate contract extensions. Baseball has successfully challenged old traditions to move the game forward with such innovations as inner league play. It’s time it did the same with the trade deadline.
Gus Griffin, for War Room Sports
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