OTFATT 2011: Update #1

In these updates throughout the season, I'll be keeping track of which MLS players have played every minute of every game in the regular season. That feat has been accomplished only 42 times in 15 seasons. Click here for the complete list. This year, we started with 198 eligible players (18 teams times 11 starters). A month into the season, and the total now stands at exactly one-third of that: 66. More interestingly, two teams have both been wiped out already, and they just played each other on Saturday. RSL rested most of their starters (thank god MLS won't fine them like the EPL), while New England simply have been hit with injuries and needless ejections. They were down to two players going into the match: Shalrie Joseph and Pat Phelan, and you know what happened next. The Revs were also the second team out last year. For rookies, there's Anibaba, Balchan, and Sapong left. Of the three players who survived last year (Hesmer, Moor, Ream), two of the three remain in 2011. Ream was called up for the USMNT games. Six teams have changed their goalkeeper so far. Of the survivors, I like Jimmy Nielsen of Kansas City to have the best chance to survive the whole year. He would've last year if not for being rested in the final weekend. From the field players, looking at the defenders obviously, I like Jason Hernandez. He lasted until July 31st a year ago, and seems less likely to be carded than several of the others. Remaining Candidates (66) 5 CHI Anibaba, Gibbs, Johnson, Pappa, Pause 3 CHV LaBrocca, Pearce, Zemanski 5 CLB Balchan, Hesmer, James, Marshall, Miranda 6 COL Kimura, Larentowicz, Moor, Pickens, Smith, Wynne 4 DAL Ferreira, Hartman, Hernandez, John 1 DC Burch 5 HOU Boswell, Cameron, Hainault, Hall, Palmer 4 KC Besler, Espinoza, Nielsen, Sapong 4 LA Dunivant, Franklin, Juninho, Leonardo 4 NY Lindpere, Miller, Solli, Tainio 5 PHI Califf, Le Toux, Miglioranzi, Mondragon, Valdes 4 POR Brunner, Cooper, Jewsbury, Purdy 4 SEA Alonso, Gonzalez, Keller, Parke 7 SJ Busch, Convey, Cronin, Hernandez, Johnson, McDonald, Wondolowski 3 TOR Cann, Frei, Harden 2 VAN Leathers, Rochat Order of teams being totally wiped out for 2011, with last surviving player: 1. RSL - Kyle Beckerman, Nat Borchers, Javier Morales, Nick Rimando, Chris Wingert (4/9) 2. NE - Pat Phelan (4/9)