Odds and Sods

The PFA Player of the Year nominees are a formality.  Ronaldo will in it.  No contest.

But one has to ask.  Where is Wayne Rooney?

Rooney has 11 goals and 11 assists in just 23 league appearances.  Despite Ronaldo’s grandiose stats, one can still make the argument that Rooney was equally as valuable.  United were far worse without Rooney than without Ronaldo this season.

He should clearly have been there ahead of Gerrard who scored 30% of his goals and was pants much of the season, as well as David James.

The slight from the young player nominees is even more ridiculous.  Rooney isn’t a better player than Ashley Young? (5 goals in 32 starts) or Gabby Agbonlahor? (8 goals in 32 starts).  That’s absurd.

What does the poor kid have to do to get a nomination?  Juggle the ball blind-folded while solving a Rubik’s cube and singing Opera?

Dontrelle Willis may have the craziest stat line of the season so far.

G:2 IP: 5.0 H:1 R:4 K: 0 BB:9 BAA: .071 ERA: 7.20

The story behind it is even weirder.  Willis denied being hurt all spring, despite repeated arm shaking.  He has had obvious command issues and in his last start had to be removed from the game after falling during his delivery.

Willis appeared to insist he was fine, but Leland removed him from the game anyway.

The Tigers ignored the warning signs, persistent decline and pitching motion destined for arm injury, to sign Willis to a three-year $29 million extension.  Not looking like an awesome move at the moment.