Ranking the MLS goalkeepers

I'll be back later with some thoughts on the U.S.-Turkey friendly. Meanwhile, here is a quick rundown of MLS teams and the men standing sentinel between the sticks. It's a 1-16 ranking of who has best situation in goal (lifted directly from my weekly MLS wrapup piece that appeared on SI.com last Monday.)

1. Los Angeles – Donovan Ricketts has proven rock solid over a year and change and Josh Saunders has proven more than worthy as insurance.

2. Kansas City – Jimmy Nielsen, experienced, athletic and composed, has quickly demonstrated why Wizards officials adjudged Kevin Hartman expendable.

3. Seattle – If Kasey Keller, 40, is feeling his age he sure is hiding it well. Seattle is struggling at the moment but goalkeeping is hardly the problem at Qwest

4. Houston – Pat Onstad is the oldest player ever to participate in an MLS match, but he still gets his business done. The Dynamo No. 1 always keeps his teammates accountable, too.

5. Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando may be a smidge susceptible from long range but he’s a terrific shot stopper and better than average on distribution.

6. Toronto – Stefan Frei was a terrific rookie goalkeeper last year around BMO and has shown zero signs of a sophomore slump.

7. New England – Things would be worse this year around Gillette Stadium if Preston Burpo had not been so reliable in Matt Reis’ absence.

8. Chivas USA – Zach Thornton continues to defy the laws of physics; he keeps aging and still looks a tad overweight, but he seldom gives away anything cheap.

9. Columbus – William Hesmer isn’t bad, but he has never returned to 2008 sharpness, when he helped steer the Crew to an MLS title.

10. San Jose – Joe Cannon was once the league gold standard between the sticks. He’s been up and down over the last two years but does still have the big save in him.

11. Colorado – Matt Pickens’ choices off the line can be a bit wobbly at times, but that 0.88 goals-against average says good things about him.

12. Dallas – The goalkeeping situation at Pizza Hut Park would be dire if Kevin Hartman hadn’t been scooped up on the cheap; A struggling Dario Sala lost his job three games back.

13. Chicago – Young Andrew Dykstra hasn’t been bad, all things considered. At the least, he already has partially validated Carlos de los Cobos’ controversial decision to ditch veteran Jon Busch.

14. Red Bull New York – You just never know what you’ll get with Bouna Coundoul. They’ll earn a few points thanks to his athletic ability; they’ll lose just as many due to his notorious blunders.

15. D.C. United – It’s bad when your pricey No. 1, Troy Perkins, loses his job. It’s a fiasco when the replacement is a newbie 19-year-old. (Although Bill Hamid does seem to have a future.)

16. Philadelphia – We heard so much about Chris Seitz and how he was the next great U.S. ‘keeper; We’re still waiting to see it.