Portland and Vancouver have done well in preparing for their sophomore seasons. (Getty Images)

Yesterday I took a look at the 10 clubs from the Eastern Conference in how they've done so far this winter. Naturally right after the post was put up one of those clubs went out and signed a DP.

Today, we'll look at the nine clubs from the Western Conference to see how they've been doing so far this winter.

A fantastic story by Grant Wahl on Seattle Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani. Just read it. That is all.

Los Sounders de Seattle iniciaron esta semana la temporada 2012 con sus entrenamientos en el Starfire Complex de Tukwila. El equipo se trasladará a la ciudad de Casa Grande, Arizona el 30 de enero y luego seguirá su preparación en la Florida. Los Sounders abren la temporada de local ante el Santos Laguna de México [.

Tagged: Andrew DURAN, Babayele SODADE, SuperDraft 2012

Happy New Year! We hope all of you had a great holiday season and are getting even more excited for the 2012 Sounders Season.

The "Silly Season" is now in full swing and the end of 2011 was just heating up with all kinds of rumors and new signings for the Sounders and we think that's just the beginning.

In the last few weeks the Seattle Sounders have lost a total of 9 players by draft, transfer, trade, retirement, and just about every other way you can think of for a team to lose a player. This week we talk about those loses and what the team will do to fill those gaps.

We have an audio clip from the December 7th press conference call with new Sounders netminder Michael Gspurning (Guh-SHPURN-ing), answering Jeremiah's question as to how long he would like to stay in Seattle.

After a couple of weeks off, we're back at it! We want to thank you for your patience and as we navigate the holiday season we will most likely be on a bi-weekly schedule until closer to preseason.

This week we talk about the loss of players James Riley and Tyson Wahl. As you probably know, Riley was selected by Montreal Impact in the expansion draft and immediately traded to Chivas USA and Wahl was traded to the Impact for allocation dollars.

Por tercer año seguido el Seattle Sounders ha sido victima del Reclutamiento de Expansión (Expansion Draft), esta vez por el nuevo equipo de la MLS el Impact de Montreal. El club canadiense tomó al defensor derecho James RILEY en su lista de 10 jugadores que le empezarán a dar forma a su plantel para el [.

Well folks, season's done. I'm guessing you probably knew that, unless you blacked out sometime early last week and are just now waking up. If that's the case, sorry

Today's show deals mainly with our feelings on the season as a whole, the reality of being pleased with the year the team had and disappointed with the way it ended, where things go from here and some early thoughts about what the team may look like next season.

Seattle stands to lose an important player in the expansion draft. (Getty Images)

I don't think many folks expected to see this list so soon. With the Seattle Sounders exiting the playoffs last night after there 3-2 (on aggregate) loss to Real Salt Lake, the list had to be made. Boy, Montreal has to make the most of this too as the Sounders stand to lose one quality player.

ALONSO 56, p. (1-0), NEAGLE 61 (2-0). El daño ya se habia hecho. El marcador de 3 0 del partido de ida el pasado sábado no pudo ser igualad0 esta noche en el CenturyLink Field con el 2-0 a favor del Seattle en la segunda vuelta de la semifinal de la conferencia oeste de [...]

ALONSO 56, p. (1-0), NEAGLE 61 (2-0). El daño ya se habia hecho. El marcador de 3 0 del partido de ida el pasado sábado no pudo ser igualad0 esta noche en el CenturyLink Field con el 2-0 a favor del Seattle en la segunda vuelta de la semifinal de la conferencia oeste de [...]

ALONSO 56, p. (1-0), NEAGLE 61 (2-0). El daño ya se habia hecho. El marcador de 3 0 del partido de ida el pasado sábado no pudo ser igualado esta noche en el CenturyLink Field con el 2-0 a favor del Seattle en la segunda vuelta de la semifinal de la conferencia oeste de [...]

"They score a lot of late goals, they never say die, especially with this Sounders team, they're a strong team and until that final whistle blows they will be in the game for sure" Frank Yallop 11-1-2011

If there is anyone who knows that it's not really over until it's over it would be coach Frank Yallop of the San Jose Earthquakes, who talks with us about his experience when his 2003 team were down 4-0 on aggregate going into the final second half of the 2 game playoff series and went on to win the series by a goal.

Saborío 41´, (1-0), Saborío 53´(2-0), Grabavoy 88´(3-0). Como si se tratara de una película de horror, muy apropiada en estos dias, Los Sounders FC fueron acribillados por el Real Salt Lake 3 0 con dos goles del costarricense Álvaro SABORÍO y otro de Ned GRABAVOY para dejar a Seattle al borde del precipicio de [.

The news broke yesterday that Mauro Rosales has once again had a slight MCL injury caused by a hard tackle in the Sounders 3-1 win over Chivas USA. In this week's episode we talk about his injury and what implications that has for playoff games, especially the opening two-leg round with Real Salt Lake.

Outside of KC's game today, only 2 games could have an effect on Sporting KC, and that's only if KC fails to get the win against DC. If KC wins the results aren't going to matter at all to KC.
Toronto - New England
What we want to happen: Doesn't matter
Both are eliminated from the playoffs, the only thing that is really being fought for is for New England to avoid the "Wooden Spoon" for the worst record in the league.

We recorded on Monday so this week's episode of Nos Audietis is pretty much about all the festivities surrounding Kasey Keller's final regular-season home game. And what a game it was. Not only did Sounder at Heart host a pretty awesome little get together, but the Seattle Sounders treated the fans to a pretty impressive comeback victory that allowed Keller's day to be a real celebration.

Carreño 3´ (0-1), MONTERO 42´(1-1), Delgado 61´ (1-2). El Monterrey regresó a Seattle y volvió hacer daño. La victoria 1-2 sobre el Seattle Sounders no solo les dio tres puntos que lo clasifican a cuartos de final de la ConcaChampions, también le dan el primer lugar en el grupo D superando a Seattle que pasa [.

Wondolowsky 24´(0-1), OCHOA 82´(1-1), MONTERO 87´(2-1). Innolvidable, asi será la última noche de Kasey KELLER ante su público que lo acompañó por tres temporadas en el CenturyLink Field, fue triunfo de 2-1 sobre el hístorico rival San José Earthquakes. Fue también otra noche heroíca del Seattle Sounders FC al borrar la desventaja de un gol [.

Seattle bids an MLS regular season adieu to Kasey Keller tonight in front of 60,000 plus at Century Link Field while the Quakes and Chris Wondolowski hope to spoil Keller's regular season swan song tonight. Seattle has locked up a playoff spot in the Western Conference and San Jose has locked up a showing in MLS 2012, since there's no relegation you see.

Well last night didn't exactly go the way that KC wanted it to go. The big result that went the wrong way was the Houston Dynamo pulling off only their second away win of the season, beating Portland at Jeld-Wen field 2-0. The win put Houston into second place in the Eastern Conference, ahead of Kansas City.

Kind of a weird week in Seattle Sounders-land. The loss to the Philadelphia Union was definitely disappointing, but it's hard to get too worked up about it. The Sounders, just like us, are still kinda basking in the glow of another piece of silverware.

We spend more time talking about how the rest of the season is shaping up and looking ahead to Saturday's "Date with Sounder at Heart", which also happens to be Kasey Keller's final regular-season home game.

A light Saturday for MLS games with the international games going on, but there are two games in league play today. Only one though will have any effect on KC's season, but it could be a big effect.
New England vs San Jose
What we want to happen: We don't care.
Both teams are eliminated from playoff contention, so really this match means absolutely nothing for Sporting KC and their qualification process.

There are few things as glorious in the podcasting world than celebrating victory, and that's just what we do in this week's episode of Nos Audietis. Three-straight U.S. Open Cups baby, there ain't nothing to apologize for.

This is also our first episode with our new engineer, loyal Sounder at Heart reader Dano_Seattle.

Seattle lifted their third straight USOC last night, others should take note. (Photo via Seattle Sounders Communications)

First off, congratulations to the Seattle Sounders FC on their third straight US Open Cup title. Its a feat that has to be commended since three-peats in sports happen so rarely anymore.

I'll admit, I'm still in a bit of aw over this Tifo. Very impressive stuff. Here is the video of it going up last night. I swear I'll have some actual posts up at some point today, or this week (its an international week on the calendar so I'm taking it a tad easy).

I'll get into the USOC final at some point today, I think. But I had to post this first. Just absolutely amazing Tifo from the Seattle crowd last night.

(H/T to those on Twitter posting this...there was a couple of you)

Sean Johnson -- Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
The Chicago Fire spent a large portion of Tuesday's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup simply attempting to endure Seattle Sounders FC's frequent attacks and possession.
It was only a matter of time before the Sounders would strike, and Fredy Montero provided the winner in the 77th minute to lead Seattle to a 2-0 win over the Fire in front of an Open Cup-record crowd of 35,615 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

Seattle Sounders have won the US Open Cup in each of the three years of their existence in MLS. Although Sounders have been a model franchise for expansion their model of success was the Chicago Fire. Chicago Fire had been the last expansion team to make the MLS playoffs, not to mention winning the MLS Cup, in their 1998 inaugural season and winning the US Open Cup.

Frank Klopas -- Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
Chicago Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas will be a part of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in a different light this Tuesday when his Fire take on two-time defending champion Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field.
Klopas capped off the Fire's inaugural 1998 MLS season with the game-winning goal during Chicago's Open Cup win over the Columbus Crew.

Here is a preview of tomorrow's big US Open Cup between the Seattle Sounders and the Chicago Fire that I wrote for SBNation.com. I'm taking the Sounders tomorrow to win their third straight Cup, who do you all have?

Sin niguna aspiración en lo que resta de la temporada el New England Revolution se dio el lujo de iniciar al novato Diego FAGUNDEZ quien con apenas 16 años de edad es toda una promesa para el equipo de Boston y la selección estadounidense. Y el Seattle Sounders lo ha conocido de primera mano. FAGUNDEZ, [.

Sorry this is coming out so late, but next week we should be on a much tighter schedule as we've signed up an engineer (@danoseattle) who we hope will help make the show better and keep us publishing a little faster. Aaaaaaannnnnnyyyyyway, we have a show and we think it's a good one.

We talk a lot about the Cascadia Cup and even have ECS Travel Director Aaron Reed (@ECSTravelMonkey) on for a rather lengthy discussion about the trip and away support in general.

Saw this quote from Sigi Schmid in regards to Colorado Rapids manager Gary Smith staying at home this past week for the Rapids CCL trip to Honduras. Can't say I disagree with this either. Even though the Rapids won their game, the head coach should have made the trip. It will be interesting to see if any excuse from Smith finally comes out this weekend.

Dos goles del cubano Osvaldo ALONSO en el último minuto de cada tiempo le ha dado al Seattle Sounders FC el pase a cuartos de final de la Liga de Campeones Concacaf tras empatar 2-2 contra el CD Comunicaciones de Guatemala. El equipo Crema se puso adelante en el marcador con el gol tempranero de [.

It was good being back in the Emerald City, a place that in many ways still feels like home to me. Though United's result against Sounders FC left much to be desired, I had a great time catching up with family and friends. Here are some of the snaps from my walk around town, our training session at Starfire and the club's pregame routine at CenturyLink Field.

Camilo 22´ (1-0), EVANS 33´p. (1-1), MONTERO 63´(1-2), 67´(1-3). El Rey Cascadia tiene nombre, se llama Fredy MONTERO. Sus cuatro goles en el Derbi Noroeste, dos contra el Portland Timbers en Junio y otro par esta noche ante el Vancouver Whitecaps le han dado al Seattle Sounders FC su primer Cascadia Cup -de la era [.

We've got a lot to talk about this time out; the Sounders waxing of DC United, the loss of Mauro Rosales, the loss to CS Herediano, Seattle's final Cascadia Cup match of the season this Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps and the future of Nate Jaqua and Pat Noonan are all discussed at length.

El Seattle Sounders FC desaprovechó la oportunidad de asegurar su clasificación a cuartos de final de la Liga de Campeones Concacaf al perder 0-1 ante el CS Herediano de Costa Rica en el CenturyLink Field. Un gol de tiro libre de Yosimar ARIAS en el minuto 25 fue la diferencia del encuentro que mantiene a [.