Top Teams Who Didn't Contend in 2008 Who Should in 2009

Every spring, all 30 teams in baseball renew their hopes of making it to the fall classic. Whether its a team that finished in the cellar with over 100 losses or a playoff team, everyone gains a clean slate and new hope for the new season.

It's hard, if not impossible, to predict a Colorado Rockies or a Tampa Bay Rays squad to make it to the fall classic. I doubt there was anyone on this planet (aside from the obvious Rockies and Rays fans) who could have predicted such an outcome.

However, there are teams who will surprise you from year to year. Here are my teams to watch out in each of the six divisions for in 2009:

NL EAST: ATLANTA BRAVES

Health has been a major issue for the "Team of the 90s". Last season the plague hit Atlanta and it hit hard. Tom Glavine, Tim Hudson, John Smoltz all headed to the DL.

What looked to be a promising squad and picked as favorites by many to win the World Series, the season took a turn for the worse. At the deadline, the trade of Mark Teixeira would ultimately mean the Braves had given up on the brutal 2008 season.

However, for 2009 there is reason to believe this team has what it takes to win the NL Wild Card, if not the division. They went on a major shopping spree this off-season in hopes of rejuvenating a winning tradition.

The acquisitions of Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, and Kenshin Kawakami should take a lot of pressure off a heavily overworked bullpen in 2009.

The offense should also benefit from the acquisition of Garret Anderson and the Braves hope that Jeff Francoeur can return to his "Natural" form. Finally, Josh Anderson should hold down CF for the Braves and add much needed speed the team lacked in 2008.

A new look Braves squad in all aspects should contend and survive to see October, if healthy, in 2009.

NL CENTRAL: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Much like the Braves, injury also plagued this team as Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter both spent time on the DL. They were major reasons this team won it all in 2006.

In 2008, they were still able to pull together 86 impressive victories without either one of these guys. Offense was a major reason for this, with Albert Pujols led the charge with help from Troy Glaus and Rick Ankiel. Skip Schumaker and Ryan Ludwick were good surprises and made this one of the best offenses in the NL Central.

However, if they want to outduel the Cubs in a very strong NL Central, the return of former Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter will be key. They have good pitchers to anchor the team in Adam Wainwright, Kyle Lohse, Todd Wellemeyer, but they will need their ace healthy if they want to contend and be around in October.

NL WEST: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

The team released of a lot of its veterans. Bruce Bochy just recently cut Dave Roberts and the trade of Ray Durham last season trimmed off a few years from the average age.

They have regained some youth in the form of outfielders Nate Schierholtz and Fred Lewis, first basemen John Bowker, along with promising young pitchers Brian Wilson, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Noah Lowry.

A lot like the Rays from a year ago, they have the veterans who have been there and know how to win, namely Randy Johnson and Aaron Rowand.

Pitching wins games and gets you into the post season, and this Giants rotation has just that. Five strong, quality starting pitchers, along with a solid bullpen anchored by Brian Wilson.

They also possess an offense that will score enough runs via small ball and definitely have the potential to outduel the other teams in a very weak NL West.

AL EAST: NEW YORK YANKEES

No surprise here. The article's title forces me to pick them as the other two squads that didn't make the playoffs simply don't have what it takes to put up a fight against either Boston or Tampa.

The Evil Empire went on a huge shopping spree with the signings of Mark Teixeira, AJ Burnett, and CC Sabathia. They also added Nick Swisher, a solid versatile option to play first or roam the outfield to rest the ever aging Johnny Damon.

Joba Chamberlain going to the starting rotation makes this a very strong staff. However, health will be a major concern going forward.

AJ Burnett has always been injury prone and is not a guy who you can pencil in for 30 or more starts in any given season. When healthy, he is lights out.

It will be interesting to see how Sabathia's workload for the Brewers toward the end of last season will affect him in 2009 as well. A healthy Chien-Ming Wang will also pay major dividends.

AL CENTRAL: MINNESOTA TWINS

This team always contends. Yes they are a small market team, but the formula for the Twins is their team identity. Why fix something that isn't broken when they were just shy of getting into the playoffs last season?

They boast strong young pitching and a good nucleus have young homegrown players. Justin Morneau leads the charge with a potent stick and is an MVP candidate every year.

A year of experience for the young pitching staff should really help and the fact that Liriano, who was lights out in 2007, is coming back.

However, his health is a major concern. If he can come back and return to his 2007 form, the Twins will definitely be a gold standard for the AL Central.

AL WEST: OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Billy Beane has always had good young pitching. The offense has been a huge question mark for this team.

The team addressed this issue with the off-season addition of Matt Holiday and Orlando Cabrera. Both guys are proven bats and should help the pitching staff nail down a few more much needed wins.

With the heavy losses of the Angels have suffered, the lack of pitching from the Rangers, and the Mariners far from contending even with the addition of Ken Griffey Jr., the Oakland A's automatically become the favorite in the West.

There you have it, teams that didn't make it in 2008 that should make the 2009 season a very interesting season to watch. All the off-season rumble will be interesting to watch unfold as "America's Pastime" kicks off another season in April.