If the MLS season begins, here's how it could unfold

With MLS and its players seemingly going nowhere in negotiations over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the players say they are ready to go on strike next week. So maybe it's premature to look deep into a season that might never arrive.

Still, it's more fun to bury our heads in the sand and pretend the season will go on as scheduled. There's just too much at stake for both sides to shoot themselves in the foot now.

Here are the Eastern Conference teams in order of predicted finish:

1. Toronto FCIt will be a good season if: Julian de Guzman and Dwayne DeRosario can work their magic.It will be a bad season if: If second-year goalkeeper Stefan Frei doesn't live up to expectations.Bottom line: It's time the SRO crowds in Toronto saw a winner. New coach Preki takes his turn trying to lead the Reds.2. Chicago FireIt will be a good season if: Newly signed forward Collins John reminds Fire fans of Damani Ralph.It will be a bad season if: The defense in front of goalkeeper Jon Busch can't be consistently strong - and healthy.Bottom line: New coach Carlos de los Cobos isn't yet set on a formation and doesn't seem satisfied with his roster. More changes could be coming.3. Columbus CrewIt will be a good season if: Guillermo Barros Schelotto, 37 in May, is still a magician with the ball.It will be a bad season if: Chad Marshall can't stay healthy and have a Defender of the Year-caliber season.Bottom line: Crew may be trending in wrong direction.4. N.Y. Red BullsIt will be a good season if: They can win a road game. Any road game. They were 0-13-2 away last year. It will be a bad season if: The defense remains one of the league's worst. The Red Bulls acquired Carl Robinson last week to try to fix that.Bottom line: The Red Bulls have a new coach and a new stadium, but do they have new karma? A 6-0-3 preseason is a good start.5. Philadelphia UnionIt will be a good season if: The Union doesn't play like an expansion team.It will be a bad season if: The Union plays like the young team it is.Bottom line: Peter Nowak has won, and now he gets to start a team from scratch. He has a vocal fan base behind him.6. New England RevIt will be a good season if: Forward Taylor Twellman can come back from injury and goalkeeper Matt Reis can stay healthy.It will be a bad season if: Shalrie Joseph comes in contact with Kryptonite.Bottom line: Age, injury and transfers have caught up to Steve Nicol's Revolution.7. D.C. UnitedIt will be a good season if: Chris Pontius can improve on a pretty good rookie season.It will be a bad season if: Troy Perkins is not the answer in the net. United gave up a lot to get him.Bottom line: New coach Curt Onalfo has work to do with the roster. Waiving Danny Szetela can't be a good sign.8. Kansas City WizardsIt will be a good season if: Age still hasn't caught up to forward Josh Wolff, 33.It will be a bad season if: Age is catching up to central defender Jimmy Conrad, 33.Bottom line: That new stadium can't come soon enough for a franchise in need of something exciting to happen.2010 predictionsMLS Cup: Seattle Sounders FC 3, Toronto FC 1MVP: Freddie Ljungberg, SeattleRookie of the Year: Tony Tchani, New YorkGolden Boot: Dwayne DeRosario, TorontoDefender of the Year: Wilman Conde, Fire