After a winning home stand and a respectable split against the MLB-leading Dodgers, one third of the Cubs' regular season is officially over and they're a game over .500. Last year, they were 35-21. In 2007, they were 22-29. What's my point? Exactly. 

Lou Piniella said yesterday that "the worst is over." If .500 baseball is truly "the worst" for this team, than either his expectations are high or this team will be there in September. With the law of averages on their side, the latter appears true. June is known as the month that separates the true contenders from the flukes. The Cubs appear to be in neither boat right now. I think that's perfect.

If roaring back in July like the Cubs did in 2007 or dominating May and on like they did last season both resulted in 3-0 sweeps, I'll take lurking 4.5 games back for the moment. It's enough to fight off talk of a lost season, but not enough to have inflated post-season expectations that result in national embarrassment.

Sure, this team will have to get better to compete with the three teams ahead of them in the central, but the expectation of dominance should disappear, not just because this team doesn't have dominant make-up, but because who really wants that again? Do Cub fans really want the paranoia that will come with another regular season of defending first place? I'd prefer they try and make a run when it counts. As for June, l'll take improvement. Now that's a reasonable expectation.

This month, the Cubs won't face a team more than 6 games over .500, and that will be the Detroit Tigers toward the end of the month when things undoubtedly will be different. There's no reason that after going 15-13 in May that the Cubs can't improve on that in June. Their only challenge is that of those 26 games, only 9 will be at home and they only get three games against an NL Central team that is ahead of them in the division. Don't expect much change in the standings barring a major slump or hot streak for any team, the idea is to still be there. I think it's safe to say the Cubs will avoid the slump end of things. Even so, many games against the Brewers and Cardinals remain to make up ground starting in July -- that and Aramis Ramirez coming back.

Here's my final May Summary/June Preview

May Highlights

• As much as it doesn't feel like it, Derrek Lee hit .313 in May, driving his average up .043 points despite missing several games. The only issue is that Lee has only driven in 19 this season, far from on pace for matching his 90 in 2008. He'll have to really work to get his average back to 2008 levels, but he'll be better in June.

• In 4 starts this season, 2 against the NL's best teams, Randy Wells has a 1.80 ERA. The best part of it all? 7 walks in 25 innings. On a pitching staff notorious for having control issues and pitchers missing time with injuries, he's been a blessing. If Wells can continue his success, beginning in Atlanta tomorrow, once the top 4 starters are all healthy, expect Sean Marshall to move into a lefty-weak bullpen.

• Ted Lilly deserves my final May shout out. A 4-2 record with a 3.32 ERA, averaging about 7 innings per start with only 11 walks in May. As long as he can avoid facing the Reds next week, who are notorious for destroying him, he should be good. He's been better than anyone on the Cubs' staff.

May Lowlights

• Alfonso Soriano. Defend him all you want, but his signing in 2006 is the worst of all the big Cubs deals before and since. In the 3rd year of his $17 M/y 8 year deal, he is playing like you would've expected in his 5th or 6th year of the deal. Alfonso hit .216 in May. He hasn't driven in a run since May 17. He has struck out in over 25 percent of his plate appearances this season, on pace for the highest percentage in his career. He is still a slight defensive liability, he's missed more time on the DL as a Cub than at any other time in his career and he's stolen just 2 more bases in 2 and 2/3 seasons as a Cub than he did in his one season with the Nationals. And there's nothing the Cubs can do about it. When's he gonna sit, Lou? 

• Carlos Zambrano. I still think no one lights a fire under his team like Big Z, but his injury and suspension-marred May is a lowlight for sure. His ERA was a respectable 3.38 in 3 starts, but he averaged only 5 innings. Also, his strikeout totals look to decline again this season. Hopefully May is the worst of it for Carlos.

• Geovany Soto hit a much improved .278 in May, but 1 HR and 12 RBI are not what you thought you'd get from the 2008 ROTY after the first two months of the season. If Soto wants to consider himself an asset to this franchise, he has to either get better defensively or hit way better than this. It'll be interesting to see if he can hit well enough to pull up his average to where it was last season. 

June Preview

Offensively, Mike Fontenot at third base is the biggest thing looking forward. With no timetable on Ramirez and Piniella's announcement that Mike will start at third, it'll be interesting to see if the Cubs can find consistency in the lineup. Right now, Bobby Scales or Andres Blanco will start each day at second unless Aaron Miles gets off the DL soon, with Fontenot likely moving over late in games and Jake Fox coming in at third. All is contingent on Fontenot proving he is an everyday hitter. He hit .333 on the home stand, so he's my player to watch for June. Considering where he will hit in the line-up, he can make a big difference.