The Milwaukee Brewers made the playoffs for the first time last season since 1982 when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in the World Series.

The small market Brewers are going to need some huge individual seasons from unexpected players if they plan on a return trip to the postseason in 2009.

The main concern headed into the 2009 is the starting pitching staff. Gone is the Brewers aces, CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets. Sabathia, who signed on as a free agent with the Yankees, basically carried the whole team on his shoulders the last 2 1/2 months. Sabathia was a work horse for the Brewers done the stretch and his absence will put a lot of pressure on other starting pitchers to step forward.

Sheets was a phenomenial pitcher when he was healthy. But the key was, when he was healthy. Sheets is being replaced by Yovani Gallardo as the ace of the staff in 2009. Gallardo will be a huge upgrade from Sheets if he remains healthy this season.

The rest of the staff will have to step their games up a notch if the Brewers plan on contending for the NL Central title. Dave Bush needs to pick up where he left off last season. He was the second best pitcher down the stretch for Milwaukee and won the Brewers only game in the playoffs last season.

Manny Parra has to prove he can pitch an entire season. Parra looked great the first half of the season but then hit a wall, like most young pitchers do. Parra has the ability to challenge Gallardo for the ace of the staff if he can increase his endurance this season.

The key will be Jeff Suppan this season. The Brewers got little, if nothing, from the veteran down the stretch. Yes, Suppan went 4-0 in August but he was horrible down the stretch when the Brewers needed him most. Suppan needs to have a season to prove he was worth the $42 million the Brewers gave him when he signed as a free agent with Milwaukee.

Seth McClung is the wild card. McClung has the nasty stuff a closer dreams of and if he can get the Brewers into the seventh inning with a lead, he will have done his job effectively. McClung needs to hit double digits in wins for the Brewers if they are to wrestle the divisional title away from the Cubs.

The bullpen is looking stronger than last season with the addition of all-time saves leader, Trevor Hoffman. Salomon Torres look great in relief of Eric Gagne as the team’s closer, but he to also faltered down the stretch when nobody else stepped up to the plate besides Sabathia. Carlos Villanueva is slated for the setup role which will be a significant upgrade from the departed Gagne and Guillermo Mota. The Brewers needed to get Brian Shouse resigned. Shouse was the Brewers most effective reliever last season. He was deadly against left-handed hitters.

The offense will once again be the strength of Milwaukee. Look for Prince FFielder to return to his numbers of 2007 when he put up 50 homers and drove in hoards of runs. All-Star Ryan Braun will see his numbers increase this season with a more productive Fielder hitting behind him. Braun has the potential to go for 45 bombs and 125 RBI’s if he remains healthy.

The key to the whole offense begins with leadoff hitter Rickie Weeks. Weeks needs to improve his batting average. He scored alot of runs when he got on base last season, but it was not often that he was able come up with a hit. He drews a lot of walks and was beaned quite a few times, but nothing takes the steam out of the ship like a leadoff hitter going 0-4 every night with 3 strikeouts.

Mike Cameron will reach the 30-30 club (homers/steals) and Corey Hart is out to prove that he is worth every penny when he comes up for free agency. Hart looked absolutely dreaded down the stretch last season. I think the pressure of living up to being an all-star should’ve wore off during the offseason.

Look for another solid season out of former all-star shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Jason Kendall.

The Brewers need to find a permanent third baseman. I am not convinced a platoon at that position is a viable one. Position players need reps just like everyone else. Bill Hall will get first chance but he will have Mike Lamb and Craig Counsell looking over his shoulder for playing time.

Mat Gamel is laying in the wings in the minors looking for a chance to break through this season. Gamel has all the tools Braun had as a rookie and just needs a chance to prove he can play at the major league level.

Look for the Brewers to finish second in the NL Central to the Cubs again this year. The postseason is not out of the question, but their main competition, the Mets, finally got a closer in K-Rod. He could be the difference between Milwaukee returning to the postseason again in 2009.