Major League Soccer's fluid MVP race; the leaders, and a dark horse

None of the MLS post-season awards are as fluid as the league’s Most Valuable Player race.

Brek Shea may be the flavor of the moment, and rightly so. But if the young attacker “hits the wall,” as they say, he could slide like a puppy on a slick tile floor.

Mauro Rosales (the biggest bargain in MLS – scroll to the bottom once you link to the piece) is toting the note for Seattle’s attack as his Seattle nip annoyingly at the Galaxy heals in the West. But at this time last year, or thereabouts, we were calling Sounders teammates Fredy Montero an MVP finalist. But then Montero forgot to keep scoring. In fact, he scored about as many last September and October as Carlos Valderrama did – and El Pibe hasn’t played in 10 years!

Then we have Dwayne De Rosario. At this point it’s hard for plenty of MVP watchers to consider him a serious part of the MVP race. “De Ro” is on his third  team of 2011, so it’s a stretch to make a case  at this point that he’s been far and away the most important  person for his team, much less the most important person to his team around MLS.

But if De Rosario keeps wearing the Superman cape at RFK, and if his exploits drive Ben Olsen’s side all the way into the MLS playoffs, we’re surely going to see things differently. There is less than a quarter of the season to play, but it’s enough to bolster his body of work to a point that would suffice for most voters.

Thierry Henry was previously in my personal Top Three. Then he wasn't. But if he hits a couple this weekend, heck, he might leapfrog right to the top.

So things can certainly change. But … details, details! Never mind the fluidity of it all. It’s September, and it’s time to start adding the plusses and minuses …

Read on for my current Top Three, for SB Nation’s tracker and for a case for one player that I’ll go ahead and file under “lost cause:”

In the SB Nation MVP tracker, my three went, in order, to Shea, Donovan and Rosales.

Donovan may be fading, based on his national team performances and on a role for the Galaxy that may be diminished slightly now by Robbie Keane’s recent addition. And while I know it’s anathema to some people, and while I know I’m risking accusations of buying into the Beckham hype, I have to say this: Becks’ 12 assists so far and his overall play in L.A.’s midfield deserve recognition. If just a few more of those exceptional passes over distance or just a few more of those deadly set-piece balls turn into goals, I’m going to see the Galaxy man as a real MVP candidate. Especially if the Galaxy keeps its mitts on the Supporters Shield. That matters, too.

As I said, De Rosario could become a bigger player.

Shea? The kid has been an absolute wonder. (Phooey, once again, to the national reporters who chided me back in June for saying and writing that Shea belonged on the Gold Cup roster. Wassup!??) But I, like everyone else, wonder about overuse. His schedule has been nothing less than ridiculous, laying it all out game after game in MLS, CONCACAF Champions League and for the national team. So, we’ll need to monitor that situation.

Meanwhile, here’s my annual plea for the domestic media and fandom to recognize more defensive-minded players in these awards races:

It’s about Kyle Beckerman. I think the RSL man is having a landmark season. And it’s no wonder, really. At 29 years old he’s right in the sweet spot of a player’s career, still young enough to do, but old enough to know. He may not have quite the spring in his legs as 7-8 years ago, but it doesn’t matter. His positioning, instincts and ability to read and dictate the game are at high rev. If he was a good soldier in the infantry before, the guy is Special Forces now. Plus, in my opinion, he’s looked just fine in recent U.S. appearances, too.

With two games in hand on all the Western Conference leaders, RSL is right in the thick of things. Like Dallas, the men of Utah are doing it without their offensive heart and soul. (Javier Morales, like Dallas’ David Ferreira, has missed most of the season due to injury.) Beckerman’s body of work in the RSL midfield is a major reason why. In my opinion, Beckerman’s contributions have been every bit as important as Jamison Olave’s at center back.

For those who do the stat dance, you’ll enjoy the music on this one: Beckerman has three goals and eight assists, spectacular totals for a holding midfielder.

Osvaldo Alonso is having a terrific season at Seattle. His offensive totals: three goals and three assists.

Pablo Mastroeni at Colorado, playing in roughly the same role (even though the midfield works a little differently) is having another good campaign at DSG Park. He has one goal and four assists.

As I always say, a good holding midfielder’s value is habitually underrated. The best ones do so much that goes unnoticed in terms of defensive cover, organizing the midfield, covering ground, linking play with swift clarity, etc. I made a similar case two or three years ago for  Shalrie Joseph, when he topped the totem pole of MLS holding mids.

(Along the same lines, I saw several comments the other day that Maurice Edu was “invisible” in recent U.S. matches.  Well, he was if you only watch the game when the United States moves into the attacking half. And I guarantee you he was anything but “invisible” to the back four, or to Tim Howard.)

Bottom line on Beckerman: he will be lucky to get a sliver of consideration for league MVP – and that’s a darn shame.