Is .500 a realistic goal for the White Sox? Should the Cubs be worried about their starters? 20 thoughts about Chicago baseball

As Chicago baseball passes the traditional Memorial Day milepost, the journey so far has been full of revelations about where the Cubs and White Sox are headed.

1. A .500 record should be a realistic goal for a Sox team that looks better than expected after 53 games. Aiming for anything lower lets everyone on the Sox payroll off the hook. Imagine how competitive this team might have been had the Sox entered the season with bona fide fourth and fifth starters. Manny Banuelos isn't the answer, unless the question is: Which starting pitcher most represents the Sox's inability to assemble a legitimate major-league rotation?

2. Suddenly, which 30-something Cubs starter concerns you the most: Cole Hamels after