MLS Pick’em 2010: Week 1

March 22, 2010 by Magnakai Haaskivi

Expansion: The MLS way of telling you that you need a new logo for this post

The crisp smell of dew falling on freshly-laid Field Turf, the smell of sweaty fans wearing pseudo-trendy scarves in 80 degree summer heat, and the sight of athletes who can barely afford their car insurance premiums rubbing up against international superstars who sometimes pretend to want to be here: that’s right, folks. MLS is in the air.

This year there are a few changes to the structure of MLS. These changes aren’t the ones you might’ve been hoping for (i.e., no promotion or relegation, no single table, and the single entity system is still there), but they’re still worth noting.

First of all, the new CBA is in place. Courtesy of Soccer America, here’s what the players ended up getting:

A salary cap increase of 8% this year ($2.55 million, up from $2.32 million) with annual 5% increases every year afterwards. This year, though, the extra money’s probably going to be eaten up by…
…the minimum yearly salary of $40,000. For the other Eurosnobs out there who change “dollars” to “pounds” and “yearly” to “weekly”, that’s £510 a week, or “not a lot of money”; when you consider some of these guys were making half of that this time last year (.pdf) though, it’s quite a nice jump and one that’s going to probably force some clubs to spend a little less on top players so that they can be brought in line with guys at the bottom rung of the pay scale.
There’s a type of contract guarantee, too; for players over 24 with three or more years experience, the fourth year of their contract becomes guaranteed; however, the July1st date for contract guarantees is removed from all current contracts. Yay? I’m not sure this is really that great a provision, to be honest, but whatever; I guess it keeps you from getting cut to avoid paying the last year of your deal.

Outside of the CBA, there are some other changes to the league. For one, there are now an even eight teams in both conferences, meaning that since the season is a 30-round “home and away” against everyone else, there’s absolutely no reason at all for two tables to exist. There’s also a change from the “why weren’t you already doing this?” file: the league will take a two-week break during the World Cup group stage, presumably on the assumption that more people care about the world’s largest international sporting event than they do about San Jose playing Kansas City on a Wednesday night.

There are also some new venues for fans to enjoy: the New York Red Bulls opened Red Bull Arena on Saturday with a 3-1 friendly win over Santos, and Philadelphia’s PPL Park is expected to open sometime in June. Plus, Toronto’s BMO Field will make the switch over to natural grass from the much-maligned Field Turf.

One thing, however, remains the same from last season: the Pick’em.

Here’s the upcoming slate of games; just like last year, we’re going to have you pick the winning team (or draw; don’t forget that draw is an option!) in the comments below. Two Yellows and jjf3 absolutely ran away with this thing last year, but this is a new campaign with new teams and new players; plus, this league is totally chaotic and this can be just as much about luck as it is about skill.

Away teams are listed first, because that’s how MLS.net does it and I’m copy/pasting this from them (that way I can blame it on MLS if something’s wrong).

Thursday, March 25, 2010
Philadelphia @ Seattle (ESPN2 @ 9:30 PM EST)
Friday, March 26, 2010
Colorado @ Chivas USA
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Toronto FC @ Columbus
Houston @ FC Dallas
Chicago @ New York (ESPN @ 7:00 PM EST)
D.C. United @ Kansas City
Real Salt Lake @ San Jose (FSC @ 9:00 PM EST)
New England @ LA Galaxy (FSC @ 11:00 PM EST)

Posted in MLS, MLS Pick'em | Tagged MLS, MLS Pick'em | 26 Comments

26 Responses

on March 22, 2010 at 1:54 pm | Reply Bluesfan

Philly v. Seattle- Seattle
Colorado v. Chivas- Chivas
Toronto v. Columbus- Columbus
Houston v. Dallas- Draw
Chicago v. New York- New York
DC United v. KC- DC
RSL v. San Jose- RSL
Revs v. LA- LA
on March 22, 2010 at 2:20 pm | Reply TFCFTW

Maybe a bit of a tangent from the post, but has anyone heard word on 2010 MLS Fantasy Leagues?
- on March 22, 2010 at 2:57 pm | Reply Magnakai Haaskivi
  
  The only one I know of is FSC’s, and their page for it is currently still saying that a win gets you a trip to MLS Cup 2009. So either they haven’t started yet or part of the prize is a trip through the Circuits of Time to watch a match you already know the result of (although, still…that’d be sweet).
  - on March 22, 2010 at 5:50 pm | Reply Kevin
    
    I did some searching and found this site, which appears to be up-to-date and has a self-stated league long history. It won’t win a beauty pageant in web design, but it seems functional.
    - on March 22, 2010 at 6:48 pm | Reply Magnakai Haaskivi
      
      That site’s actually kind of cool; web design notwithstanding there seems to be a lot of info on it.
      - on March 23, 2010 at 12:44 pm | Reply TFCFTW
        
        ESPN has a fantasy site as well, but it’s also closed. I’ve made a team for this site, but I’m still hoping FSC posts theirs.
        
        on March 23, 2010 at 4:11 pm | Reply TFCFTW
        
        Update: ESPN site just opened!
        
        on March 23, 2010 at 11:41 pm Ryan
        
        Still saying it’s closed for me..
        
        on March 25, 2010 at 11:02 am TFCFTW
        
        http://mlsfantasy.soccernet.espn.go.com/app/start.jsp
        
        This is the link I used and it worked for me
on March 22, 2010 at 2:27 pm | Reply Stoehrst

Philly @ Seattle: Seattle
Colorado @ Chivas: Draw
Toronto @ Columbus: Columbus
Houston @ Dallas: Houston
Chicago @ New York: NY
DC @ KC: Draw
RSL @ San Jose: Draw
Revs @ LA: Draw
on March 22, 2010 at 4:02 pm | Reply Green Eggs

There isn’t a 20 point gap between 1st and 2nd anymore; I don’t know what to do with myself in the Pick ‘Em!

Philadelphia v Seattle: Seattle
Colorado v Chivas USA: Chivas USA
Toronto v Columbus: Draw
Houston v Dallas: Houston
Chicago v New York: Chicago
DC United v Kansas City: DC United
Real Salt Lake v San Jose: Draw
New England v LA Galaxy: LA Galaxy
on March 22, 2010 at 4:40 pm | Reply Fuse

Here we go again…

Philadelphia @ Seattle: Draw
Colorado @ Chivas USA: Draw
Toronto FC @ Columbus: Columbus
Houston @ FC Dallas: Houston
Chicago @ New York: Draw
D.C. United @ Kansas City: D.C.
Real Salt Lake @ San Jose: Who cares? Err, I mean, RSL.
New England @ LA Galaxy: Draw
on March 22, 2010 at 4:53 pm | Reply Magnakai Haaskivi

Philadelphia @ Seattle: Seattle
Colorado @ Chivas USA: Draw
Toronto FC @ Columbus: Columbus
Houston @ FC Dallas: Houston
Chicago @ New York: New York
D.C. United @ Kansas City: D.C. United
Real Salt Lake @ San Jose: Draw
New England @ LA Galaxy: LA Galaxy
on March 22, 2010 at 5:48 pm | Reply Sculptor?!?

Phila vs. Seattle- Seattle
Colorado vs. Chivas- Chivas
Toronto vs. Columbus- Toronto
Houston vs. Dallas- Houston
Chicago vs. New York- Chicago
DC United vs. KC- DCU
RSL vs. San Jose- RSL
Revs vs. LA- Draw
on March 22, 2010 at 6:10 pm | Reply Martin

Phil @ Seattle- Seattle
Colorado @ Chivas USA – Chivas
Toronto @ Columbus – Draw
Houston @ Dallas – Draw
Chicago @ NY – Chicago
United @ KC – Draw
Salt Lake @ San Jose – Draw
New England @ Galaxy – Galaxy
on March 22, 2010 at 7:03 pm | Reply epiblast

Philly@Seattle: Seattle
Colorade@Chivas: Chivas
Toronto@Columbus: Columbus
Houston@Dallas: Draw
Chiago@NYRB: Draw
DCUnited@KC: KC
RealSL@SanJose: RealSL
New England@LA: LA
on March 22, 2010 at 7:13 pm | Reply PierreGarConnoisseur

Philadelphia @ Seattle – Seattle
Colorado @ Chivas USA – Chivas
Toronto FC @ Columbus – Columbus
Houston @ FC Dallas – Draw
Chicago @ New York – New York
D.C. United @ Kansas City – Draw
Real Salt Lake @ San Jose – Draw
New England @ LA Galaxy – LA
on March 22, 2010 at 8:43 pm | Reply Shabs

Might as well get in on this:

Philadelphia @ Seattle – Seattle
Colorado @ Chivas USA – Draw
Toronto FC @ Columbus – Columbus
Houston @ FC Dallas – Houston
Chicago @ New York – Chicago
D.C. United @ Kansas City – Kansas City
Real Salt Lake @ San Jose – RSL
New England @ LA Galaxy – Draw
on March 23, 2010 at 9:00 am | Reply Ellis

There’s a first time for everything I suppose:

Philadelphia @ Seattle – Seattle
Colorado @ Chivas USA – Chivas
Toronto FC @ Columbus – Draw
Houston @ FC Dallas – Houston
Chicago @ New York – Chicago
D.C. United @ Kansas City – Draw
Real Salt Lake @ San Jose – RSL
New England @ LA Galaxy – LA
on March 23, 2010 at 12:47 pm | Reply Caldwell

Philly – Sounders: Sounders
Rapids – Chivas: Draw
Toronto – Crew: Crew
Houston – Dallas: Houston
Chicago – NY: Draw
DCU – KC: DCU
RSL – San Jose: RSL
NE – LAG: LAG
on March 23, 2010 at 5:37 pm | Reply Ryan

Philly v. Seattle- Seattle
Colorado v. Chivas- Draw
Toronto v. Columbus- Toronto
Houston v. Dallas- Dallas
Chicago v. New York- New York
DC United v. KC- Kansas City
RSL v. San Jose- RSL
Revs v. LA- LA
on March 23, 2010 at 10:43 pm | Reply jjf3

I will say that I’m confused, as the first game is not until Thursday night, and you posted this llike 3 days before, instead of a mere 15 minutes before the 1st game…

Philadelphia @ Seattle SEA
Colorado @ Chivas USA Chivas
Toronto FC @ Columbus Draw
Houston @ FC Dallas Draw
Chicago @ New York NY
D.C. United @ Kansas City Draw
Real Salt Lake @ San Jose RSL
New England @ LA Galaxy Draw
- on March 23, 2010 at 11:25 pm | Reply Magnakai Haaskivi
  
  It’s early in the season; you have to give us a couple of months before we forget all about MLS existing.
  - on March 23, 2010 at 11:33 pm | Reply Green Eggs
    
    Couple of months? There are eight more matches in the EPL (suck it Barclays) season; I think a couple of weeks is more likely.
on March 24, 2010 at 11:37 am | Reply Kevin

Philadelphia v Seattle – Seattle
Colorado v Chivas USA – Draw
Toronto FC v Columbus – Columbus
Houston v FC Dallas – Houston
Chicago v New York – Draw
D.C. United v Kansas City – DC
Real Salt Lake v San Jose – RSL
New England v LA Galaxy – Draw
on March 27, 2010 at 4:24 pm | Reply Adam

CRAP! I totally forgot about this, I guess some points is better than no points

Toronto v. Columbus- Columbus
Houston v. Dallas- Houston
Chicago v. New York- Draw
DC United v. KC- DC
RSL v. San Jose- RSL
Revs v. LA- Draw