MLS heading down the stretch

• If the playoffs began today
• Discuss the coaches' choices

With a quarter of the season to play, USA TODAY's José Alfredo Flores asked the 12 MLS head coaches for a report card. They were asked to not vote for their own players, although they could select their team.

Best team: Kansas City Wizards. Peter Vermes and his teammates are 12-5-5 after starting 10-0-2. "Everything was humming, then we started losing," coach Bob Gansler says. "But we're on the uptake."

Rookie of year: Nick Garcia, Kansas City. Defender was 1st-round draft pick.

MVP: Mamadou Diallo, Tampa Bay. Leads league with 18 goals, two assists.

Surprise: Kansas City. Goalie Tony Meola is the key to setting up defense.

MLS Cup: Los Angeles vs. Chicago. The coaches see Cobi Jones, in back, and the Galaxy vs. the 1998 champion Fire.

Tom Fitzgerald, Columbus

MVP: Mamadou Diallo, Tampa Bay

Rookie of the year: Nick Garcia, Kansas City

Best team: Kansas City

Surprise: Lothar Matthaeus' problems

MLS Cup: Columbus vs. New York/New Jersey

Glenn Myernick, Colorado

MVP: Diallo

Rookie: Garcia

Best team: New York/New Jersey

Surprise: New York/New Jersey's success

MLS Cup: Colorado vs. New York/New Jersey

Bob Bradley, Chicago

MVP: Tony Meola, Kansas City

Rookie: Garcia

Best team: Los Angeles

Surprise: D.C. United's woes

MLS Cup: Chicago vs. Los Angeles

Dave Dir, Dallas

MVP: Diallo

Rookie: Garcia

Best team: Kansas City

Surprise: Kansas City or Diallo

MLS Cup: Dallas vs. Chicago

Bob Gansler, Kansas City

MVP: Diallo

Rookie: Rusty Pierce, New England

Best team: Chicago

Surprise: Matthaeus

MLS Cup: Chicago vs. Los Angeles

Ray Hudson, Miami

MVP: Diallo

Rookie: Carlos Bocanegra, Chicago

Best team: New York/New Jersey

Surprise: Matthaeus

MLS Cup: Kansas City vs. New York/New Jersey

Thomas Rongen, D.C. United

MVP: Meola

Rookie: Garcia

Best team: Los Angeles

Surprise: New York/New Jersey

MLS Cup: Los Angeles vs. Tampa Bay

Lothar Osiander, San Jose

MVP: Meola

Rookie: Garcia

Best team: Kansas City

Surprise: D.C. United

MLS Cup: Kansas City vs. Los Angeles

Sigi Schmid, Los Angeles

MVP: Diallo

Rookie: Bocanegra

Best team: Kansas City

Surprise: Kansas City

MLS Cup: Los Angeles vs. Chicago

Fernando Clavijo, New England

MVP: Diallo

Rookie: Bocanegra

Best team: New York/New Jersey

Surprise: Kansas City

MLS Cup: New England vs. Chicago

Octavio Zambrano, New York/New Jersey

MVP: Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay

Rookie: Garcia

Best team: New York/New Jersey

Surprise: Diallo

MLS Cup: N.Y./N.J. vs. Chicago or Los Angeles

Tim Hankinson, Tampa Bay

MVP: Meola

Rookie: Garcia

Best team: Kansas City

Surprise: Kansas City

MLS Cup: Chicago vs. Los Angeles

If the playoffs began today

By Peter Brewington, USA TODAY

Eight of the 12 MLS teams make the playoffs - the three division champions, plus the next five teams with the best records. The MetroStars and Wizards currently lead the eight-team field. But with five weeks left, a pitched battle remains for the final six slots. Three-time champion D.C. United is in dire shape, in last place. The regular season ends Sept. 9, with the first round of the playoffs beginning Sept. 12. The final is Oct. 15 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Handicapping the field, based on current seedings:

1. Kansas City Wizards (12-5-5, 41 points)

After 10-0-2 start, the Wizards have cooled, going 2-5-3. Need to get Miklos Molnar healthy; team is 7-0-0 when he scores a goal.

2. New York/New Jersey MetroStars (13-7-2, 41 points)

The MetroStars, 10-1-2 since Clint Mathis was acquired from Los Angeles via lottery draft, is riding nine-game unbeaten streak and haven't lost since June 9.

3. Tampa Bay Mutiny (12-9-2, 38 points)

Led by powerful striker Mamadou Diallo (18 goals) and assist king Carlos Valderrama (20 assists). Are 5-1-2 lately.

4. Los Angeles Galaxy (10-7-7, 37 points)

Seeking first title after losing in '96 and '99 MLS finals (both times to D.C. United).

5. Chicago Fire (10-8-5, 35 points)

Explosive team leads MLS with 46 goals. Because of Olympics, will miss two key starters for first round -- forward Josh Wolff and midfielder Chris Armas.

6. Colorado Rapids (10-10-3, 33 points)

Quietly making a move after last year's late-season collapse.

7. New England Revolution (9-9-5, 32 points)

Looking to recapture early success. Led East Division, then suffered six-game winless streak. Have won last two, helped by new forward Jose Morales.

8. Dallas Burn (9-11-4, 31 points)

Tied with Columbus (but Burn win tiebreaker); also trying to hold off Miami Fusion (7-11-5, 26 points), San Jose Earthquakes (5-10-8, 23 points) and D.C. United (5-13-6, 21 points) for last playoff spot.

First round pairings (best of three): No. 8 Dallas at No. 1 Kansas City; No. 7 New England at No. 2 New York/New Jersey; No. 6 Colorado at No. 3 Tampa Bay; No. 5 Chicago at No. 4 Los Angeles.

Playoff schedule

Sept. 12-24, first round.

Sept. 29-Oct. 11, semifinals.

Oct. 15 MLS Cup 2000, RFK Stadium (1:30 p.m. ET, ABC).