MVP = MLS Vexes People

Ah, Jamie Trecker strikes again. This time, he argues that "In 2002, Arena was lucky to have young players pushing veterans for slots, raising everyone's game in the process. This time around, there isn't that pressure — most of the youngsters remain a good length behind and you get the feeling that a number of players feel that they've already locked up a roster spot." Huh? Let's take a rational look at who's locked up a roster spot:

Goalkeeper(s): Kasey Keller
Defender(s): Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Cory Gibbs, Oguchi Onyewu, Eddie Pope (?)
Midfielder(s): Claudio Reyna, John O'Brien, Pablo Mastroeni, DaMarcus Beasley, Eddie Lewis, Bobby Convey
Forward(s): Eddie Johnson, Landon Donovan, Brian McBride

That leaves five, perhaps six slots open. There's still healthy competition for defensive positions (especially left and right back), right midfield, and forward.

As for complacency, what about thumping Panama 3-0 in Panama, a place where Mexico could only manage a draw? It seems to me that Trecker's once again grasping at straws. He even had the audacity to write this (regarding last week's article), "Your mail was overwhelmingly in agreement with much of what I wrote. To date only 37 letters out of that bunch disagreed with what I had to say (by my math that's about 2.76% of all respondents)." Oh please. He obviously missed the discussion over on Bigsoccer, where Trecker would have hardly found himself among the majority opinion. He must not have included some four e-mails sent to him by our friend over at Climbing the Ladder. And speaking of Bigsoccer, they more or less have once again taken Trecker's article apart.

Per the title of today's blog post, MLS has begun its 2005 Awards Tracker. Going along with the purpose of this feature, which is to create discussion and argument about MLS players, I'm going to go through each of the award categories and weigh in on my choices and their choices:

Most Valuable Player:

MLS:

1. Taylor Twellman --
2. Landon Donovan --
3. Dwayne DeRosario +
4. Ronnie O'Brien -
5. Christian Gomez --

My List:

1. Shalrie Joseph --
2. Dwayne DeRosario --
3. Taylor Twellman +
4. Jaime Moreno -
5. Ronnie O'Brien -
Moving up: Jeff Cunningham

I don't understand how MLS can leave Shalrie Joseph off a list of MVPs. Donovan's inclusion is something of a joke. Yes, he's the Galaxy's MVP, but I wrote to MLS calling this the "Alex Rodriguez" syndrome. Can you win league MVP if, despite how good a player you are, your team still finishes in the middle or bottom of the pack. Now, there's still a lot of time left, and clearly Landon makes the Galaxy a better team, but he's not an MVP yet in my book.

Rookie of the Year:

MLS:

1. Scott Sealy +
2. Michael Parkhurst -
3. Brad Guzan +
4. Chris Rolfe --
5. Bobby Boswell -

My List:

1. Michael Parkhurst --
2. Scott Sealy +
3. Bobby Boswell -
4. Brad Guzan +
5. Chris Rolfe --
Going nowhere: Gonzalo Segares

MLS has an infatuation with goal-scoring, that much is clear. Sealy could still wrap up the award in the next few months, especially if he continues to score at a rapid pace. However, Parkhurst has been the anchor of MLS' best defense this season, making few rookie mistakes, and making his teammates better. Until the last two weeks, Boswell and Parkhurst were neck-and-neck for this award. Boswell's fortunes have sunk recently, but there's still 1 1/2 months left in the MLS season.

Goalkeeper of the Year:

MLS:

1. Pat Onstad --
2. Matt Reis --
3. Nick Rimando --

My List:

1. Pat Onstad +
2. Matt Reis -
3. Nick Rimando --
4. Joe Cannon --
5. Brad Guzan +
Making me laugh: Tony Meola

Reis has been a big part of New England's success this year, don't get me wrong, but he's also been a liability at times, making rash challenges, and injuring two players this season as a consequence. Onstad has been a model of stability in the back. He doesn't make flashy saves all that often, but he can do it (see his save(s) of the year against LA in June) if he needs to. Guzan has bailed out Chivas so many times, it's become routine for him. Cannon and Rimando need to keep up their good work to move up the list.

Defender of the Year:

MLS:

1. Jimmy Conrad --
2. Wade Barrett +
3. Greg Vanney --
4. Michael Parkhurst -
5. Tyrone Marshall +

My List:

1. Eddie Robinson +
2. Michael Parkhurst --
3. Jimmy Conrad --
4. Bobby Boswell -
5. Greg Vanney --
Moving up: Danny Califf

I don't understand how MLS can neglect the success of the anchor of MLS' best defense, while also leaving off the anchor of the league's second-best defense. Scoff if you will at my inclusion of Boswell and Parkhurst but they belong, and their teams' successes are indicative of that. One could easily flip Robinson and Califf, but since Califf's inclusion in San Jose's starting eleven, Robinson has been an absolute rock in the back, helping a defense that has been key number one to San Jose's sucess.

Coach of the Year:

MLS:

1. Dominic Kinnear --
2. Steve Nicol --
3. Dave Sarachan -

My List:

1. Dominic Kinnear +
2. Steve Nicol --
3. Peter Nowak -
4. Bob Gansler --
5. Colin Clarke -
Feeling the heat: Dave Sarachan

Kinnear is easily the front-runner right now, and even if his team doesn't win the Supporter's Shield, he still deserves the award. He's taken a team that everyone left for dead before the season, filled it with MLS cast-offs, and is second only to the Revolution in points with 44. Why Sarachan's on MLS' list I don't know. He has tons of defensive talent yet has one of the worst defenses in the league. In fact, he has talent all over the field (except at right mid), but his team is in a worrying slump with a terrible road trip ahead.

Finally today, Jimmy Conrad finally has weighed in on his Madrid experience, and it was worth the wait. Best quote:

"I told [Beckham] that despite any effort I use to beautify myself, he's much better looking than I am."