Preseason Power Rankings

Everybody's doing it, and therefore so should I. This logic has introduced me to so many wonderful things in my life. Without further Adu:

1. Columbus Crew: Didn't feel the need to mess with a winning formula. But can you really just sit on a championship in today's league?
   
2. Chicago Fire: These guys have so many weapons at their disposal I'm starting to think they may just be funded by the Pentagon.
   
3. Houston Dynamo: If their offense gels around Stuart Holden, which I think they will, they're still the class of the Western Conference.
   
4. Real Salt Lake: Javier Morales goes from the most underrated player in MLS to a legitimate star. But is the defense behind him solid enough?
5. Toronto FC: Serious rearmament starts with DeRo and Vitti, ends with the best MLS team draft in recent memory. Finishing in front of goal will be key.
   
6. Chivas USA: Another team with a mess of scoring options. Drop them down a few notches if they don't get a top replacement for the likely-departing Sascha Kljestan.
   
7. New England Revolution: The perennial deep playoff runs are over. But a core of Ralston, Joseph, Twellman and Reis is nothing to sneeze at.
8. DC United: Makeover 2008 went so badly, it necessitated makeover 2009. Assuming Gomez still fits in, the question marks are the new defenders. Again.
   
9. Red Bull New York: I'm still not sold on these guys. With van den Bergh gone, who on this team besides Angel genuinely makes things happen?
10. San Jose Earthquakes: An entire season of Huckerby and a more proven crop of forwards complement a solid defense. Out of the cellar for the Bayside Bhoys.
    
11. Seattle Sounders FC: Fredy Montero can't really be this good, can he? If the defense can hold its own, the playoffs aren't out of the question.
12. Colorado Rapids: Why are they always content to field an entire squad of roleplayers? If everyone just meets expectations, this isn't a playoff team.
13. Los Angeles Galaxy: Their defense looks somewhat better than last year. Maybe this year they'll only give up 52 goals instead of 62. Ick.
    
14. FC Dallas: The defense isn't the best organized, they're overdependent on another banner year from Cooper, and the midfield has lacked a true star since Juan Toja.
    
15. Kansas City Wizards: There are some blue-clad candidates for a breakout season, but on raw talent the team is lagging well behind in the loaded East.