Defender of the Year: Team Defense Rankings

Was thinking about the probable 2010 awards nominees, and this came to mind. Here's a list of MLS Defender of the Year nominees, and where their teams ranked in terms of goals allowed: 1996 Fraser LA 3 1996 Doyle SJ 4 win 1996 Kooiman TB 5 1997 Dooley CLB 1 1997 Gough KC 4 1997 Pope DC 5 win 1998 Fraser LA 1 1998 Kubik CHI 2 win 1998 Pope DC 3 1999 Fraser LA 1 win 1999 Kubik CHI 3 1999 Agoos DC 6 2000 Vermes KC 1 win 2000 Fraser LA 2 2000 Addo TB 4 2001 Agoos SJ 1 win 2001 Llamosa MIA 4 2001 Mastroeni MIA 4 2002 Lalas LA 1 2002 Barrett SJ 2 2002 Bocanegra CHI 3 win 2003 Nelsen DC 3 2003 Pope NY 4 2003 Bocanegra CHI 5 win 2004 Conrad KC 1 2004 Fraser CLB 2 win 2004 Pope NY 10 2005 Califf SJ 1 2005 Conrad KC 5 win 2005 Marshall, T. LA 7 2006 Boswell DC 3 win 2006 Burciaga KC 10 2006 Conrad KC 10 2007 Robinson HOU 1 2007 Suarez CHV 2 2007 Parkhurst NE 6 win 2008 Soumare CHI 2 2008 Marshall, C. CLB 3 win 2008 Conrad KC 5 2009 Cameron HOU 1 2009 Hurtado SEA 1 2009 Marshall, C. CLB 3 win I know 2004 was a very even year, but it's boggling how even an MLS legend like Eddie Pope could be nominated when his team was dead last on defense. Then there's Burciaga and Conrad for a non-playoff Wizards team in 2006. The former certainly made it due to his 8 goals, while the latter only played in 15 games (though he was the defending award winner). Tyrone Marshall in 2005 makes it four total players who were nominated with their team in the bottom half defensively. There's certainly some reputation involved, which makes sense for a position not easily evaluated by looking at the stats. After all, Chad Marshall only played in 18 games last season. I know a lot of baseball writers take innings pitched into account when looking at their Cy Young votes, but apparently MLS voters aren't as worried about playing time.