It’s not because I am still in job-search mode, rather it’s because of the recent trade deadline. Media and fans are going to focus on those first few games or appearances(in the case of pitchers) when they gauge the success of a trade.

I’m sure White Sox fans and Dodger fans have different feelings about Lance Lynn’s first start for the Dodgers yesterday. Everything looks great in Lalaland, whereas Sox fans are wondering where was this dude? Lost in the excitement, Lynn surrendered three more homers. The Dodgers could overcome that though.

On the other side of town, newcomer Jeimer Candelario was 4-5 with 2 runs in his Cub debut against the Reds last night. More on the nature of those hits in a subsequent post. It is funny as they have a perceived weakness at third and he’s seen as a plus fielder, but they started him at first and he made an ugly error. Nobody is going to hold that against him and he’s said all the right things.

I picked two obvious Chicago-related examples, but I’m certain one can find examples in each ML city. The real issue is whether any of these starts will be sustainable, or in the negative-will anyone turn around a bad start?