This week’s game turns to New York Red Bulls midfielder Rafa Marquez.

Salinas, who started San Jose’s first six matches, suffered a broken left collarbone after Marquez rode him to the ground in the 42nd minute. The Red Bulls DP delivered a kick for good measure as they two players tumbled.

Seeing how the league is handing down suspension left and right after games are over, this one will certainly fall into that count. The question begs to be asked, just how many games will Marquez get for his actions here? Three games? Four? Six to eight?

In addition to the foul play by Marquez was the actions of referee Ricardo Salazar, who let play continue and didn’t whistle for a penalty kick. That kind of crap has to change.

Sporting KC and RSL square off in the biggest match of 2012 - so far. (Getty Images)

What else can you say about the upcoming weekend in Major League Soccer? It’s damn full. Nine matches, eight of them on Saturday. Tons of interesting matchups across the board that should have everyone’s attention.

This could be the start of where we begin to see how teams will go for the rest of the season. Six weeks in and we know a good amount about each club but it always seem that once those first few games are out of the way that teams begin to separate themselves from one another at this stage. This season should be no different really.

I have a few items I will be looking at heavily this weekend, and here they are:

1. Getting off the mark. For both the Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC, this is a big weekend. Both have win-able home games against clubs that they should beat. Toronto gets Chivas USA, a club making the cross country trip while Philadelphia welcomes in the Columbus Crew, a team fresh off a 4-1 drubbing last week from the hands of the New York Red Bulls.

Even though it is still early, this could easily be a make-or-break kind of weekend for Aron Winter and Peter Nowak. Both of their clubs have been dreadful thus far this season and neither have found their way.

Toronto has to find a way to get their offense going with Danny Koevermans, while making sure that this gritty Chivas team doesn’t make it three straight on the road. Saying that Chivas is a pushover can’t be true anymore after wins in Portland and Salt Lake this season but a long trip to Toronto could be tough for Robin Fraser’s club. Toronto has to find their game and take it to Chivas early or else they could be staring at yet another loss.

For Philadelphia – the plan is simple – find the attack and make it happen against the Crew. Whether it be Danny Mwanga, Gabe Farfan, or someone even like Freddy Adu stepping up…someone has to take over for the Union attack.

2. Reaction to Mullan. It has been nearly a year since the dreaded tackle from Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan on Seattle’s Steve Zakuani. With Mullan’s return to Seattle set for this weekend, the reception of the veteran wing could be some must-see TV. To me, I hope the Sounder fans keep it classy when dealing with Mullan. I’m not saying they should shower him with praises and roses or anything like that but I do hope that the faithful there realizes that holding a grudge against a player that has already been forgiven for too long could come back to haunt them.

My guess it will end up being mostly boos from the crowd each time Mullan touches the ball. Thankfully most fans do get bored with booing the same guy over and over for 90 minutes.

3. Can the Quakes quiet the Red Bulls? Who would have thought six weeks ago that this could be an interesting match? I certainly did not with the way the Red Bulls started the first two games of the year. Now as we enter Week 6 you have one of the top offenses squaring off against one of the best defenses.

San Jose has done well so far this season at quieting quality offenses like Seattle and Vancouver while finding ways to get Chris Wondolowski the ball. Their style and pace on the wings has come alive with Marvin Chavez and Shea Salines but for me what is so impressive is their defense. Victor Bernardez and Justin Morrow have quietly become a force in the middle of the defense. They’ll certainly have their hands full with Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper, two of the hottest strikers in MLS.

The Red Bulls come into this match scoring 13 goals in the last three games, with Cooper and Henry doing most of the damage. So far this year the Red Bulls have been quieted by good defenses in Dallas and Salt Lake, while running all over Colorado, Montreal and Columbus. How they handle another quality defense like in San Jose will answer a lot about this team. If they can run up the score yet again this weekend, New York will certainly be a force to deal with for the rest of the season. If not, then we’ll know their kryptonite.

4. What formation does Schellas Hyndman put out this weekend? For most of the season FC Dallas manager Schellas Hyndman has used the 4-1-4-1, a trusty formation that really works best with a healthy David Ferreira. But last week against the New England Revolution, he switched it all up going to a 4-4-2. The speed of the wings with guys like Brek Shea and Carlos Rodriguez doubled with the speed of Fabian Castillo up top made it tough for the Revs to deal with at times. This move was made to counter suspensions to Jair Benitez and Daniel Hernandez but with their returns you have to wonder what Hyndman will go to next.

Typically Hyndman doesn’t like to make too many changes from game to game if he doesn’t have to but with the injury to Ricardo Villar, he may have to make a switch again when they host the Montreal Impact on Saturday. Replacing Villar in a 4-4-2 setup isn’t that difficult, seeing how he wasn’t that involved in last weeks game. But in the 4-1-4-1 setup, it proves to be a tougher challenge.

5. Battle at 15 points. Real Salt Lake head to the midwest to battle Sporting Kansas City, in the battle of the top two sides in the league. Each team has 15 points so far and SKC is undefeated after five games. Two extremely strong teams here, really no edge either way in my book as to which way this one leans.

Sporting will want to assert their speed and skill up front early in this one but so far this season they haven’t seen a defense quite like RSL. Jason Kreis’ club always plays tough against quality offenses like Sporting’s and this one will certainly come down to who blinks first.

I’m sure somewhere some executives at MLS are wishing this has been a national TV game for the league. IT would have been a great one to showcase.

6. Dreadful Timbers and Galaxy square off. John Spencer said recently that this last month has been hell, well I am paraphrasing him with that. I’m sure Bruce Arena is thinking the same thing about his club’s performances over the last six weeks as well. Both sides only have a win to bank on up to this point and neither look like the clubs most expected them to be at the start of the season.

Both teams need points but more importantly each need a big performance out of their defense in this one. Neither has shown up well this season and while you could make the point about their offenses not stepping up to the plate as well, it is the defenses that really win in this league.

7. Oh yeah, Houston and Chicago. Man I hate the unbalanced schedule for reasons like this one. Both the Houston Dynamo and the Chicago Fire have been on and off all year not because of poor play on the field but because of the schedule. Both teams have played just three games so far. Yes just three. How insane is that?

Hopefully this match will shed a little more light on just how good the Fire will be this season. I think what we’ve seen so far is they have some quality around the pitch but someone else has to step up offensive other than Dominic Oduro. The same can be said in a way for the Dynamo as their offense has to have some form of life here too.

A few more rookies are really starting to make an impact on their clubs here as we move forward and approach that half-way line of the season (believe it or not we are only a couple weeks from that). More rookies are starting to get playing time as the US Open Cup rolls around and even more so in league play. They are either earning their spots in practice or are filling in for injured veterans. Either way, some are starting to make the most of their chances here.

Again, this is a watch list, so for now there isn’t a real order here on the players. Though before long expect the order to be one of a ranking-style, but that won’t come until later this summer I would assume. I know I said before I would need a few weeks to truly get a top five, well it looks like I need more time on that. Mainly I want more time on that.

Here we go…

1. Sean Franklin (LA) - As I’ve probably mentioned before, he’s got a real shot at winning this award this season because of how he is playing on LA’s backline. He’s been a real consistent force in the back for a club that doesn’t have consistent defense. Without him back there this club would have given up way more goals than they already have.
2. Danleigh Boreman (NY) – This Supplemental Draft pick provides loads of pace on the wings for New York. Not great a shot though, even with the two goals he scored. He has gotten better, I will admit that but he still needs work on his touch and striking. If he helps lead New York back into the playoffs, expect him to get a lot of votes.
3. Kheli Dube (NE) – Another Supplemental pick on the list. We’ve seen in recent weeks just how good this kid is becoming. All the goals he’s provided were at big moments in the game. Makes me wonder if he will be that spark that allows New England to finally get over the hump in big games.
4. Chance Myers (KC) – Number one pick has to be on the watch because he is the number one pick. Because of the way KC has played this year it is going to take a lot for Myers to get more press in this award. Right now his chances aren’t that good of winning this because of his club’s form. Though, like Boreman, should he lift his club into the playoffs he will get plenty of votes.
5. Justin Braun (Chivas USA) – Stepping in for Ante Razov and Maykel Galindo in recent weeks. I liked Braun when I saw him in week one in Dallas and thought he had the potential to be a solid rookie. There are still aspects of his game that need work but that will come in time. I’m curious to see the playing time he gets when Galindo and Razov are finally healthy here this season.
6. Julius James (Toronto) – I know this is mostly on one game where he scored but I know this kid has the real potential to be a rookie of the year candidate. He is starting to get in John Carver’s lineups more and over time we will see exactly how good this kid really is.

Some guys on the fringe of moving up into the main discussion:

1. Stephen King (Chicago) – Getting plenty of time in US Open Cup games (scored last night against Columbus) and in regular season games too. The kid can score as we all know, but a guy like Brian McBride on the way, it looks like King will play more in reserve this season.
2. Geoff Cameron (Houston) – Has played well off the bench for the Dynamo. A couple assists and a goal on the year if I am not mistaken. I only have him down here because he comes off the bench and doesn’t start. Most of the guys above him start.
3. Shea Salines (San Jose) – So raw and yet so much pace from this kid. I’ve said before the potential is there but before long it has to come out and show. Plus we don’t see him for a full 90, that will hurt his chances at this award.
4. Andy Iro (Columbus) – He may make a serious run to move up the discussion here once he starts more. Sigi Schmid has full confidence in Iro and really for good reason. He’s big, strong and has a great soccer IQ. All the things you want in a center back.

Anyone I’ve missed? Let’s hear it

The amount of young talent in the league right now is probably at an all-time high. But in terms of rookie play, it is probably near the low levels that it has ever been at in the league’s history. But rest assured the home grown talent is still in the league thanks to the rookie class. We are just having to wait a little longer this year for rookies to step up and emerge as top players in this league.

I saw this because right now only one rookie has scored a goal here this season. Houston’s Geoff Cameron scored in week two against FC Dallas for the rookie class’s lone goal of the year. Yup, this time last year we had a couple rookies in the score books. Kansas City’s Michael Harrington scored just three minutes into his debut, and by month’s end, then-Los Angeles forward Robbie Findley also tallied a goal.

EDIT: Completely forgot about Chicago’s rookie Stephen King’s goal this past week…so there has been two rookies with goals.

The rookie play early last season was talked about more to keep people interested while they were waiting on the likes of David Beckham and Blanco to join the league.

But as tough as things have been, six weeks into the year there are a few guys that are breaking through the cracks in my eyes. Injuries may have played a part and still are for some guys here this season but I think before long some of those top picks will break out and really justify their pick in the draft.

Keep in mind this list is in NO particular order. Give me a few more weeks and I will have a true top five here for the rookie of the year watch list.

1. Justin Braun (Chivas USA) – Due to injuries this kid has seen some solid play already this season at the striker spot with Maykel Galindo and on the wings. He’s big, raw and has plenty of potential here. If he can get his shots more on target we could see another stellar Chivas rookie on our hands.
2. Geoff Cameron (Houston) – Has the one goal so he has to get mentioned as still in the running here in the early going. He saw time early due to injuries and suspensions but lately hasn’t since some key players have returned. But you have to believe that Dominic Kinnear knows he scored a big time late goal against Dallas. Coaches don’t forget things like that.
3. Chance Myers (KC) – This kid is showing us he was well worth the top pick for KC. He has some of the best pace for a defender in the league right now but too bad his decent play has been overshadowed by a couple losses in recent weeks by his club.
4. Sean Franklin (LA) (above left)- Right now he may be the top rookie playing. With the lack of quality play in defense for LA, Franklin may be the one consistent part that is playing well for the Galaxy. His speed and passing has helped out but like Myers the defense around him over shadows his actual play on the field.
5. Danleigh Boreman (NY) – Possibly a poor man’s Dane Richards is Boreman. Plenty of speed on the wing in place of Richards, while he was recovering from injury. I love the pace this kid has but a couple things he has to work on his is crosses, his defense and his striking. I saw him against Dallas and he had a number of chances that he missed badly over the bar or wide of the goal.

Guys that still have some time to break into the list:

• Stephen King (Chicago) – Scored against New England, I believe he will easily start to get some serious consideration here in the coming weeks.
• Patrick Nyarko (Chicago) – Same goes for Nyarko, who just joined the Fire’s senior squad this past week. He will eventually break into the starting line up before long here.
• Andy Iro (Columbus) – He has seen some action already for the Crew but not enough to make any real judgments about here. I think he will continue to get solid playing time this summer. The Crew may need it too if anyone goes down.
• Brek Shea (Dallas) – Loads of potential here. Once he gets more time this summer we will see why the Hoops were so high on this kid.
• Dan Stratford (DC) – With the way things have gone in DC this year, one has to believe that Stratford will continue to get his time on the field. He didn’t have a great showing in Salt Lake City but he does have the talent to get back in the lineup.
• Roger Espinoza (Kansas City) – Some people are high on this kid but I’m not really one of them. He does have the ability to make the Wizards a better club but some clumsy fouls have caused just the opposite in recent weeks.
• Shea Salines (San Jose) – Salines has the pace and the potential but really has to work on his striking and ball control in order to move into serious discussion here for Rookie of the Year. Yeah that missed goal against Chicago still stings and has left a bad taste in my mouth.
• Julius James (Toronto) – He is finally healthy here so I have to believe the it is only a matter of time that we will see him as a starter in the Toronto lineup. I’ve seen enough of this kid over the past couple of years to understand that he has plenty of talent and ability to make Toronto’s defense much better.