MLS Gamethread: Week Nine

So you may have heard that there is some sort of "draft" going on today. Just know that anyone who tells you this is untrustworthy and a cad. No one would be so morally bankrupt as to send our young people out into an environment where their health and lives would constantly be in danger. And god forbid people like myself would watch it intently, concerned only about the future of the organization they care so much about. They would have to be some sort of monster.
Oooooh, Chris Harper.

Saturday 11:00am
Toronto FC - New York Red Bulls (TSN)
Tim Leiweke of former AEG fame and brother of former Sounders' President Todd Leiweke, has joined the front office of Toronto FC. The difference won't be immediate, but you can probably put money on Toronto improving quickly. That's not going to help them much today though, as the Red Bulls have finally found their form.
Prediction: New York

Saturday 1:00pm
Montreal Impact - Chicago Fire (NBCSN)
Even with two fewer games under their Canadian belts, Montreal is only a single point out of first place in the East. meanwhile, the Fire are underperforming almost to Sounders levels.
Prediction: Montreal

Saturday 3:00pm
Vancouver Whitecaps - FC Dallas (Univision)
The schedule keeps on giving us rematches of recent contests. This game forces Dallas up to the Great White North section of Cascadia, but the Burn is ridiculously hot right now. Short of a big time Mattocks performance, this one may be written on the water.
Prediction: Dallas

Saturday 4:30pm
Columbus Crew - DC United
DC United is the only team left with fewer points than our Sounders, and a win would put our team back in last place again. Luckily, it seems unlikely that they will suddenly find their footing against a forward pairing I am super high on, Higuain-Oduro.
Prediction: Columbus

Saturday 4:30pm
New England Revolution - Philadelphia Union
Seems now like there's one of these east rivalry matchups every week these days. This will be the Revolution's first home match since the Marathon Bombing, and last week I thought they'd use it as motivation. That didn't happen. The Union are the better squad, and they'll probably show it against a team that is still distracted.
Prediction: Union

Saturday 5:30pm
GAME OF THE WEEK
Sporting Kansas City - Portland Timbers (ROOT)
Consensus seems to say that the two best NWSL teams are FC Kansas City and Portland Thorns. Their first week match was a cracker, and the men's game should be equally entertaining. In fact, these two attacking teams may provide us with the most fun match of the week. Don't necessarily show this one to your non-soccer friends though; We predict a tie.
Prediction: Draw

Saturday 6:00pm
Real Salt Lake - LA Galaxy
Donovan's back with a vengeance, hoping to heat up the Galaxy. But my crystal ball is telling me that Nick Rimando is going to play out of his mind against LA's two Designated Players.
Prediction: Draw

Saturday 7:30pm
Chivas USA - San Jose Earthquakes
The surprisingly good versus the surprisingly mediocre. San Jose cannot get their whole lineup on the pitch, and Chivas is clicking in front of their fan. They may not be able to hold Wondolowski off the board, but Dan Kennedy is certainly going to try.
Prediction: Chivas

Sunday 2:00pm
Houston Dynamo - Colorado Rapids
Houston is among the top teams in the league, while Colorado's only competition for the west cellar is... us... Houston's attacking style will prevail.
Prediction: Houston