The Fire had two surprises when coach Carlos de los Cobos determined his travel roster for Saturday night's game at Seattle. Nery Castillo wasn't on it, but John Thorrington was.
Castillo, the first Designated Player signed by the Fire this season, still isn't fit. That was obvious in his brief game appearances since joining the Fire. He was a second-half substitute in his first appearance and played only the first half of two other matches. Castillo has been doing extra work after practices to achieve game fitness and he'll go through more extensive training under fitness coach Alvaro Briones when the team is squaring off with the Sounders.
Thorrington, meanwhile, is finally recovered from a quadricep injury that has kept him out of every game this season. He'll be on the game roster for the first time at Seattle -- a place that doesn't bring back good memories. Thorrington was ejected for drawing two yellow cards in the Fire's first visit to Seattle last season. Also ejected in that game was Freddie Ljungberg, then a member of the Sounders and now the midfield leader for the Fire. Ljungberg was the second Designated Player acquired by the Fire this season.