Castrol Index: Portland Timbers Donovan Ricketts' consistency lands him the top spot in the 2013 list

Donova Ricketts, Castol Index best of 2013

If you're looking for a reason why the Portland Timbers have made the jump from an eight-win, second-to-last-place Western Conference club in 2012 to the pace setter in the West in 2013, you needn't look much further than goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.


Ricketts' steady play in net guided the Timbers to six more wins, and 11 fewer losses compared to a year ago. In his 32 games, the five-year veteran recorded a 13-5-14 record, making 92 saves – several of which were Save of the Week caliber – and had a goals against average of .97. He had been so dominant that, at one point, LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena dubbed him an MVP candidate.


For his consistency, the Castrol Indexhad Ricketts at the top of the list for 2013. He shook up a list that was forward-dominant a year ago, with the likes of LA Galaxy's Robbie Keane, the San Jose Earthquakes' Chris Wondolowski and Real Salt Lake's Alvaro Saborio in the top three.


The top 'keeper a year ago didn't come in until No. 12, where Michael Gspurning of the Seattle Sounders landed. Along with Ricketts at No. 1, Real Salt Lake GK Nick Rimando also finished in the top 10 at No. 7. Gspurning did not make the Top 25 this year.


Between Ricketts and Rimando, the list was filled with strikers from No. 2 to 6, including Marco Di Vaio, Mike Magee, Keane, Wondolowski and Jack McInerney. There were 14 forwards, five midfielders, four goalkeepers – Ricketts, Rimando, Luis Robles and Jon Busch – and two defenders – Drew Moor and Jose Goncalves – in the Top 25.


See how players collect points in the Castrol methodology here.


Castrol Index 2013 Top 25 performers

Rank
Player
Team 
Minutes
Score
1
Donovan Ricketts
Portland Timbers
2,880
810
2
Marco Di Vaio
Montreal Impact
2,743
810
3
Mike Magee
Chicago Fire
2,790
808
4
Robbie Keane
LA Galaxy
1,982
762
5
Chris Wondolowski
San Jose Earthquakes
2,610
760
6
Jack McInerney
Philadelphia Union
2,253
754
7
Nick Rimando
Real Salt Lake
2,430
735
8
Blas Perez
FC Dallas
2,020
731
9
Eddie Johnson
Seattle Sounders FC
1,725
724
10
Graham Zusi
Sporting Kansas City
2,356
714
11
Diego Fagundez
New England Revolution
2,425
712
12
Camilo Sanvezzo
Vancouver Whitecaps
2,415
705
13
Tim Cahill
New York Red Bulls
2,239
699
14
Lamar Neagle
Seattle Sounders FC
2,410
683
15
Ryan Johnson
Portland Timbers
1,768
681
16
Thierry Henry
New York Red Bulls
2,522
681
17
Luis Robles
New York Red Bulls
3,060
677
18
Will Bruin
Houston Dynamo
2,591
671
19
Drew Moor
Colorado Rapids
2,793
664
20
Giles Barnes
Houston Dynamo
2,552
647
21
Jose Goncalves
New England Revolution
3,060
620
22
Dominic Oduro
Columbus Crew
2,852
618
23
Diego Valeri
Portland Timbers
2,273
616
24
Jon Busch
San Jose Earthquakes
2,970
616
25
Conor Casey
Philadelphia Union
2,198
615