TLFC Thoughts on Positions Battles, NL Central Standings

Kind of a lazy post here, but we thought we'd chime in on a few things.

First off, it's been a bit of slow day around the TLFCHQ so we gave the interns some Crafts Time instead of their usual daily TL film break down sessions and took sometime ourselves to think more about the NL Central. The result - this horrifying image above and a non-data backed NL Central standings prediction. Inspired by a post by our friends at The Cub Reporter about the "Position Battles," turns our Intern Sam Fuld was a little fired up at Lou's separation comments. As an aside, we predict Sam will close the gap a little bit, but our choice for center field remains the same. . . we will say League of Her Own makes a pretty solid case of the Hamburgerler in Center.

Concerning the fifth starter spot. We've always been partial to the French Duke, but if Demp throws another outing like yesterday, we'd be willing to go with him. In all, this is a pretty set team and we're happy about it. BRob aside, we'd be happy to have TL stand toe to toe with the likes of Lee, Derosa, Theriot, Rammy, Soriano, Pie, Fuku, and Soto. That's a solid, if not great, defensive team that can rake - not many teams can say that. The bullpen has few questions (looking at you Scott Eyre) and everyone knows what we think of the starting pitching.

So, given our optimism, our recent run of TLFC Spring traing reviews, and getting recently called out for being a "ridiculous in our predictions," we wanted to lay it all out. Just so we're clear:

Ted Lilly Fan Club Projected 2008 NL Central Final Standings

1) Cubs
2) Brewers
3) Reds
4) Cards
5) Astros
6) Bucs

It pains us to put the Reds third, but we absolutely loathe that Astros team. We hate them so
much we had to but the Cards above them, even though its safe to say the Cards will cellar dwell with the Bucs. (Check over at Fire Joe Morgan for some Dusty loving. We had to shower after reading that... gross.)

There it is for all else to see, feel free to blast away.