SBNation's weekly MLS Power Rankings are out again with only two major changes, both to California teams. This week also sees the launch of the Monthly Awards tracking.
In the Awards tracking two Sounders appear, one as the leading MVP candidate. And a former Sounder shows up as the leader for the Comeback Player of the Year.
SBNhanced MLS Power Rankings!
| Team | Total vote count | First Tier votes | Last week's Tier |
| Tier 1 - Teams Contending For Cups | |||
| Real Salt Lake | 24 | 8 | 1 |
| Columbus Crew | 24 | 8 | 1 |
| FC Dallas | 22 | 6 | 1 |
| Tier 2 - Teams Likely in the Playoffs | |||
| LA Galaxy | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| NY Red Bulls | 18 | 2 | 2 |
| Seattle Sounders | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| Tier 3 - Teams On the Outside Looking In | |||
| Colorado Rapids | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| SJ Earthquakes | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| Chicago Fire | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| KC Wizards | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Toronto FC | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Tier 4 - Teams Competing for #3 Draft Pick | |||
| Chivas USA | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| NE Revolution | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Houston Dynamo | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Philadelphia Union | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| DC United | 0 | 0 | 4 |
The SBNhanced MLS Power Rankings are a collaborative effort by SBN's soccer bloggers to rank the MLS teams each week.
Week 22 rankings. Updated 8/31/10
And here are the Monthly Awards races
1. Fredy Montero, 14
2. David Ferreira, 12
T3. Dwayne De Rosario and Edson Buddle, 5
5. Javier Morales, 3
6. Landon Donovan, 2
1. Omar Gonzalez, 15
2. Jamison Olave, 13
3. Osvaldo Alonso, 6
T4. Chad Marshall and Ugo Ihemelu, 2
1. Nick Rimando, 18
2. Donovan Ricketts, 11
3. Kevin Hartman, 6
T4. William Hesmer and Jimmy Nielsen, 3
Coach of the Year
1. Schellas Hyndman, 16
2. Jason Kreis, 14
3. Bruce Arena, 5
4. Robert Warzycha, 4
5. Hans Backe, 2
Rookie of the Year
1. Danny Mwanga, 21
2. Andy Najar, 11
3. Tim Ream, 4
4. Michael Stephens, 3
Newcomer of the Year
1. Alvaro Saborio, 20
T2. Jimmy Nielsen and Joel Lindpere, 7
T4. Ryan Smith and Marko Perovic, 4
Comeback Player of the Year
1. Sebastien Le Toux, 13
2. Bobby Convey, 10
3. Kevin Hartman, 6
4. Bouna Coundoul, 5
5. Chris Albright, 3
6. Dan Gargan, 2
Here's what I said about my voting behind the scenes.
MVP - Andy Williams is probably the biggest surpise on that list, and I'm making the call purely on statistics, just not ones that you've probably seen. He's one of the top players in the league by Shots +/-, Goals +/- and RSL basically doubles its opponents shooting % when he's on the pitch. He's quiet on the pitch, but his team is just so much better when he plays. Bommadog!
Defender - I don't think I'm copping out to put a Defensive Mid in as a Defensive stalwart. In most modern formations the CDM spends as much time in the attack as the wingbacks do. Alonso one of the best defensive players in the league and has shut down top scorers when he's healthy.
Keeper - I'm still with Ricketts,but maybe not much longer.
Coach - Maybe I read too much 3rd Degree, but I've never been a fan of Hyndman. I was wrong.
Rookie - Mwanga has to be the winner. Najar is golden as well. 3rd place in this one could go in a lot of direcetions, but if it was like the Heisman and only likely winners got the invite? Only two invitations go out.
Newcomer - Another award with a clear #1, and a lot of guys that could finish second.
Comeback - Call this my first apology to Mr Le Toux. You proved me wrong. Very wrong. Congrats. Too bad the team sucks, but you've been great.
A reminder, the Rookie is for a first time professional, while the Newcomer is for people new to the League.
Thoughts on any of the rankings?
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