The Sounders practiced in a few coolish rain showers today at Starfire. They made a rare move over to the grass field — even though Toronto’s BMO Field has an artificial surface — mostly just to give a break to the player’s bodies. Turf — even FieldTurf — is more wearing on the legs and joints, almost every player in every sport agrees.

A few other notes:

* Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller said he takes his selection as MLS player of the week as an honor for the entire defense, which has now gone 180 minutes without allowing

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The roaring marketing success of the “Sounders” brand’s move from NASL to A-League to USL to MLS makes it hard to imagine anything other than Vancouver being the Whitecaps and Portland being the Timbers.

However, the expansion annoucement made no mention of the Whitecaps name – the B.C. Republic, anyone? — so speculation continues.

Here’s a quick overview.

Meanwhile, an odd little Twilight Zone question we’ll never really know the answer to: If you changed nothing but the name, would Seattle Alliance FC have drawn two equal sellout, scarf-waving crowds to Qwest Field by

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Two games, two wins, two shutouts, two sellouts … and now two players of the week.

After Fredy Montero won the MLS’s first player of the week award for his play in the win over New York, Sounders keeper Kasey Keller won it this week for his play in the win over Salt Lake.

Here’s the Sounders’ release:

Goalkeeper Kasey Keller turned in another clean sheet in Week 2, making five saves, including a stop at the feet of RSL striker Yura Movsisyan in the 49th minute to preserve a 1-0 lead. His performance earned him

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Coach Sigi Schmid, general manager Adrian Hanauer and forward Nate Jaqua will be at Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub in downtown Seattle from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday.

They will answer questions and help raise money for Seattle SCORES!

Seattle SCORES is a non-profit organization focused on empowering children to change their world through writing, soccer and community service. The program teaches skills children need to become life long learners, to be leaders in their communities and to succeed in life through an intensive, five-day per week after-school program. Currently, SCORES works with 6 public elementary schools to teach

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Sounders FC announced today that the team’s kickoff time for the June 17 home match against D.C. United has been moved forward a half hour to 7:30 p.m.

The game will be aired live on ESPN2.

Two games, two wins. Or more accurately, two home games, two wins.

The Sounders get their first taste of life on someone else’s pitch this week when they cross three time zones and an international border to meet Toronto FC.

And Toronto isn’t just any road game. If Puget Sound fans have any rival in MLS for sheer gameday enthusiasm, it’s Toronto. And maybe especially this week, which is their home opener.

And if last week’s conference call with MLS commissioner Don Garber was any indication, Toronto media is very aware that Toronto’s status as

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Fredy Montero’s twisting sizzler from about 30 yards out that capped Seattle’s 2-0 win over Salt Lake on Saturday is a candidate for Major League Soccer’s goal of the week.

You can vote here.

That may seem a fairly arrogant headline, considering MLS has been around for 14 years and Sounders FC has been around for two games.

And no, I don’t have any illusions that the Sounders will keep picking up three points every time they take the pitch. After two games it seems like the Sounders on the field are competitive in a way few MLS expansion teams have been, but they’re not going to run the table. Lumps will come.

Where MLS needs to step up to the Sounders standards is off the field. Mostly meaning in the stands.

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