In 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays went from perennial cellar-dwellers to beasts of the east, becoming the first team since 1997 not named the Yankees or Red Sox to win the American League East division crown.
Given the Rays' short but rich culture of losing, winning the east would have been enough to please the Tampa Bay faithful, but they didn't stop there. Tampa Bay would keep winning, going all the way to the World Series before finally falling to the Philadelphia Phillies. Needless to say, the Rays were the feel good story of the league in 2008.
So what teams, if any, have set themselves up for a similar surprise run in 2009?
(Note: This list is in no particular order).
No. 1 San Francisco Giants, 72-90 in 2008
Key additions: Randy Johnson, Edgar Renteria, Jeremy Affeldt
Key losses: Omar Vizquel
The San Francisco Giants may have the best chance to duplicate the miracle turn around of the 2008 Rays. The Giants seem to have followed Tampa Bay's blueprint for success, building around young players with tremendous upside, like Pablo Sandoval, and young starting pitching, highlighted by 2008 NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.
The Giants have also added a few veteran leaders with World Series experience in Edgar Renteria and Randy Johnson. Both players are on the downside of their careers, but should still be serviceable at worst.
The Giants still do have some question marks. They are in desperate need of middle-of-the-order run producer. Relievers Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt, and Bob Howry are all serviceable, but the middle relief remains a question mark. Will Noah Lowry bounce back after missing all of 2008 with two surgeries? Will Barry Zito remember how to throw strikes?
No. 2 Oakland Athletics, 75-86 in 2008
Key additions: Matt Holiday, Jason Giambi, Russ Springer
Key losses: Carlos Gonzalez, Huston Street
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