Please Allow Me To Introduce Myself...

So Mark has kindly allowed me to grace his blog with my words. Granted, it’s probably so he can look for more deals for Vegas trips, but either way I appreciate the outlet. At least this way he can’t butt in and sidetrack what I’m saying. (Editor's Note: Bite Me!)

For those of you who don’t know me, I used to write for Goal.com, as well as host an online radio show that Mark would sully from time to time, and I returned the favor on his TV show (hello again to the four of you who saw that). Apparently those are enough qualifications to write for “My 2 Cents.” That, and thanks to the economy, Mark needed a penny from me to keep the name of the blog.

But enough with introductions, that’s not why we’re here.

As we all know, MLS is kinda like Broadway in that the show must go on, even if there are those pesky international games that steal the bright stars every so often from the league games. Unless you’re the Galaxy of course, who just so happened to have a bye when they’d be without their talisman Landon Donovan, but that’s another story all together. (Cue Airplane cast: “That’s another story.”)

Looking at the American top flight, the biggest story from the first two weeks isn’t that D.C. United has two points from two tough opening games (which easily could have been six points). Or that Toronto, notoriously poor on the road, has four points from two trips south of the border. Or that that Alexi Lalas still has a job in soccer.

It’s that expansion side Seattle are atop the MLS table and are perfect after two games.

Granted, win numero uno was against New York, who saw Juan Carlos Osorio’s contract with the devil to get him to MLS Cup recalled prior to one week. Last year, Danny Cepero’s posts were seemingly four feet wide, while this year he’s made more errors than Chuck Knoblach trying to throw to first base.

Back to the Sounders, they’re the big story thanks to a diminutive guy. Though some want to ludicrously compare Fredy Montero’s debut to Freddy Adu -- seemingly only because of their first name, though Adu has the extra “D,” perhaps for dud? -- the Colombian is taking Seattle by storm. And anything that can tie in Sue Bird isn’t a bad thing.

Montero, on loan from Deportivo Cali, has three goals through two weeks, including a wicked, dipping blast against Real -- no jokes about Nick Rimando’s height, please -- last weekend that likely will garner Goal of the Week honors. That would go along with his Player of the Week nod for his opening weekend brace. The Colombian has been mercurial offensively, also notching an assist to give him a hand in three of Seattle’s first four goals.

The difficulty will be whether he can maintain this type of run once defenses start keying on him, which they should after he combined with Nate Jaqua to score 16 goals in preseason. Granted, Seattle’s Designated Player and underwear model (no links for that one) Freddie Ljungberg has only played 29 minutes through two games. Once the former Swedish international is fit, he and Jaqua will compliment Montero into the latest Magic Triangle in MLS.

Another question regarding Montero revolves around his length of stay in the Emerald City. With the deep pockets of the Seattle owners, they may be able to buy Montero from Deportivo Cali rather than extending his loan. The problem would then be his salary, currently at $155,000, and whether they could keep him under DP level. Conversely, you have to imagine if he keeps up something close to his current pace -- say 15 goals by the All Star Game? -- European teams will come calling and Jozy Altidore’s record transfer fee may be in jeopardy of being broken.

The surprise, though, is that Seattle has yet to concede a goal. No one doubted Kasey Keller would still be at a high level in finally returning to MLS. Well, maybe Bob Bradley, whose National team could have actually won in El Salvador with the four-time World Cup vet in the nets instead of the green Brad Guzan. But the defense has gelled well for Sigi Schmid’s side, thanks largely to the acquisition of another Deportivo Cali player, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, who was on trial with AC Milan over the winter. Pairing with aging veteran Tyrone Marshall, they have shut down what was considered to be two of the better attacks coming into the season in New York and Salt Lake.

The key that is overlooked by many, though, is the play of Osvaldo Alonso. USL fans will know the former Charleston defensive midfielder, as will D.C. United fans as he was the best player for the losing side in last year’s U.S. Open Cup championship game. But the majority of MLS fans are just opening their eyes to the former Cuban international. (Remember, during their USL days Seattle also had success with another former Cuban player in Maykel Galindo, who has gone on to stardom, followed by numerous injuries, with Chivas USA.)

Can Seattle keep up their pace? With Sigi Schmid at the helm anything is possible, as he proved last year by wearing a good luck scarf through the summer heat.

The Sounders travel to Toronto, who welcome back Amado Guevara and I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing, this weekend for their first road game. Buoyed by great home crowds at Qwest Field, the Sounders will be on the flip side of that coin as BMO Field comes alive for the first time in 2009. Take another three points and then start the talk about the best expansion team since the 1998 Chicago Fire, who went on to win MLS Cup that year. A loss won’t damper things much with a favorable schedule on the horizon.

Either way, with the Western Conference as weak as it is, Seattle is an early lock for a playoff berth. Though that proclamation will change roughly 173 times this season.

Other notes:

- As Mark mentioned yesterday, changes need to be made to the U.S. lineup. Now that Jonny Bornstein is in camp, he provides an athletic option at left back and his former club boss could tip him to start over the regressing Heath Pearce. More importantly, against the similarly athletic Trinidad and Tobago side, start Mo Edu. Not just as a Terp fan, but just as José Francisco Torres was a perfect fit against El Salvador thanks to playing in the Mexican Primera and being accustomed to the passing game that the Cuscatlecos played, so too is Edu a great fit against T&T thanks to his height and physical ability. Same goes for Jozy Altidore over Brian Ching up front.

- Chivas USA are tied with Seattle atop the West with six points, or roughly half a point per injured player. How Preki gets it done is beyond me. But, then again, just like Seth Rogen dancing in Knocked Up, Preki only had one move -- his patented cut back with his left foot -- and still notched 89 goals and 117 assists throughout his MLS career.

- In the East, New England, Toronto, and Chicago are all tied for first, all on four points. The other common factor? None have played at home yet.

- Kudos to Kevin Hartman for passing Tony Meola on the all time saves list. He previously passed Meola for shutouts. And of course has long held the record for “most consecutive games with bleached blonde hair.” With the porous Wizards defense this year, Hartman is gonna have many more opportunities to add to his new record while not tacking on too many more shutouts.

- Also earning kudos are D.C. United’s front office. Though I still question not taking Stefan Frei with one of their two first round picks and solving their long term goalkeeping needs, it appears that Chris Pontius and Rodney Wallace were solid picks. After a history of botching drafts, aside from can’t miss first overall picks Alecko Eskandarian and Freddy Adu, Kevin Payne and company may have turned a corner with this recent crop. Wallace was never afraid of going forward from left back at the University of Maryland, it was his defensive abilities that concerned me which won’t come into play as much as a midfielder. As for Pontius, United could certainly use a few more of those wonder strikes he had against Los Angeles in week one.

- Pat Walsh