Five Teams that Could Surprise in 2009
March 26, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Baseball
Each year, there are a couple Cinderella stories in Major League Baseball. If a team has the right mix of chemistry, enough talent and a united goal to win, it’s very possible to make a lot of noise.
Here are five baseball teams that could surprise during the 2009 MLB season:
5. Oakland Athletics
While nobody is picking the Athletics to win the World Series, they definitely added a few interesting pieces over the offseason. The A’s typically are strong closers so if they can get off to a good start, they may make noise in the American League.
4. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have one big asset — Albert Pujols, arguably the best hitter in baseball. With Pujols to build around, it doesn’t take much else to field a quality team capable of surprising the world.
3. Atlanta Braves
Bobby Cox is one of the best managers in the game and he knows how to guide his team to a winning season. This year’s Braves seem to have better chemistry than in seasons past and could be a dark horse in the National League.
2. Milwaukee Brewers
Many MLB observers counted the Brewers out after they lose CC Sabathia to the Yankees. Though their pitching is definitely weaker, they have great bats in their lineup and a few pitching prospects who could step up into larger roles.
1. Texas Rangers
The Rangers have mastered the art of hitting. Putting runs on the board isn’t a problem. Now if they can get a halfway decent pitching staff, they would be a difficult team to beat. In 2009, it looks like their pitching staff could improve immensely if their prospects pan out.
Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers agrees (Image: Newscom)
