Except you’ve got been residing beneath a rock, you are conscious that the Kansas Metropolis Royals made the trek to Toronto with almost 40% of their common roster “MIA” due to their vaccination standing. This calamity has allowed the remainder of the baseball world to get in a few well-placed jabs. But one way or the other, solely one in every of these gamers is receiving vital blowback for not getting vaccinated and it is as a result of he mentioned the quiet half out loud.
After the Royals launched their inactive listing going into their sequence towards the Toronto Blue Jays, Whit Merrifield claimed that he would consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine if it meant taking part in for a aggressive crew. Merrifield, with that quote, did extra to attempt to salvage what little commerce worth he has left. Generally the reality hurts, and typically it hurts essentially the most coming from somebody with the kind of profession he is had in Kansas Metropolis.
Regardless of this, followers really feel that Merrifield owed it to his teammates and the town to get vaccinated as a result of it might’ve proven loyalty to the crew. Nevertheless, it solely takes one journey within the way-back machine to comprehend that Merrifield solely repaid the Royals with the identical sort of respect they confirmed him early on. Earlier than everybody goes again to going after Merrifield, take a second to look at the proof beneath.
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Could 20, 2022; Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, USA; Kansas Metropolis Royals proper fielder Whit Merrifield (15) walks off the sector after dropping to the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports activities
It is easy to assume that Merrifield was this extremely regarded prospect that was right here to assist carry the Royals via a rebuild. In fact, he was by no means presupposed to be a significant contributor and the Royals valued the event and taking part in time of a number of different gamers forward of him.
Listed here are three gamers’ minor league slash strains, residence runs, RBIs, stolen bases and video games performed for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Participant A: .225/.265/.361, 14 HR, 66 RBI, 36 SB in 191 video games
Participant B: .300/.354/.391, 9 HR, 64 RBI, 24 SB in 139 video games
Participant C: .290/.342/.414, 13 HR, 87 RBI, 48 SB in 255 video games
Keep in mind Christian Colon? He is Participant B and was a part of two of essentially the most vital moments in Royals historical past: scoring the profitable run within the 2014 American League Wild Card Recreation and driving within the series-winning run within the 2015 World Sequence. He was additionally a top-five prospect for the Royals after they chose him fourth total within the 2010 MLB Draft.
Participant A nonetheless performs for Kansas Metropolis. With that mentioned, Adalberto Mondesi might simply be forgotten as a result of he is spent extra time injured and benched than he has on the sector regardless of being the primary prospect for the Royals.
One factor each of those gamers have in frequent is that they have been each part of the World Sequence crew. One other factor they’ve in frequent is that each ought to’ve been dropped from that crew for Participant C: Merrifield. The issue is that Merrifield wasn’t a prime prospect like these two. Regardless of being the higher participant, he was handed over for a spot that ought to’ve been rightly his.
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Regardless of having the next OPS than each Colon or Mondesi and being an even bigger stolen base risk, he was by no means even thought of for a bench spot on that crew. (A fast reminder Merrifield drove within the game-winning run within the 2011 School World Sequence, so it wasn’t like he did not have expertise of taking part in in big-time video games.) Not like Mondesi, whose massive sport expertise was most likely relegated to intense MLB The Present 15 showdowns.
Merrifield made his debut in 2016, performed nicely, then received despatched again right down to Omaha as a result of he was Edward Olivares earlier than Edward Olivares — a promising participant the Royals had little interest in. Regardless of being the most effective second base possibility popping out of 2017 spring coaching, Merrifield was despatched to Triple-A Omaha so Mondesi and Colon may very well be given roster spots.
Since 2017, Colon has been DFA’d, Mondesi has gotten a lot extra second possibilities and Merrifield turned a two-time All-Star, hit king and three-time stolen base champ. In 2014, 2015, 2016, and initially of 2017, the Royals had the chance to embrace Merrifield as a part of their core. As a substitute, they determined to name up the likes of Colon, Mondesi, Cheslor Cuthbert, Dusty Coleman, Orlando Calixte and Paulo Orlando. The Royals by no means thought of Merrifield as a future piece of the crew till they completely needed to as a result of they ran out of choices. Whilst a fully-fledged member, he is put the crew first and moved positions in order that lesser gamers might get on the sector.
Keep in mind how Merrifield was probably the greatest defensive second basemen in baseball final 12 months? Do you additionally do not forget that initially of this 12 months, he was going to be moved to the outfield as a result of Mondesi wanted one other probability to show himself? Did Merrifield complain about getting shifted or about getting handed over for a World Sequence roster spot? Have you ever heard a peep out of him about how, until he can discover the fountain of youth, that is most likely his final 12 months in Kansas Metropolis? The reply to all of these is not any.
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The truth that Merrifield expressed his reluctance to get a vaccine for a corporation that routinely picked worse gamers over him and went from world champions when he first received referred to as up in 2016 to hopeless, directionless and hapless in 2022 ought to shock no one. Merrifield’s profession got here despite the Royals, not due to it.
Keep in mind how massive a deal it was that the Milwaukee Brewers allowed Lorenzo Cain to achieve the ten-year threshold earlier than eliminating him in order that he might get a full retirement pension from MLB? Sadly, Merrifield will seemingly not play one other three or 4 years to have the ability to attain that full pension due to years like 2014 and 2015.
Why aren’t the opposite 9 gamers getting lit up like Merrifield? Merely put, Michael A. Taylor and Andrew Benintendi are each most likely gone on the deadline. The likes of MJ Melendez, Brady Singer, Brad Keller and Kyle Isbel are too vital to the long run and followers do not like Cam Gallagher, Hunter Dozier and Dylan Coleman sufficient to get labored up about their vaccine standing.
Merrifield is the proper goal as a result of he is been a longtime participant to the chagrin of the Royals brass, he is on the decline and he mentioned the quiet half that the remainder of these gamers have been pondering however have been sensible sufficient to not say.
No matter your stance on COVID-19 and the vaccine is will most likely decide how you’re feeling about Merrifield going ahead regardless of him simply being one in every of 10 gamers. I’ve received no drawback with what he mentioned and can keep in mind him for his greatness despite a corporation that had little to no perception in him.
The Liberty Flames (5-1) face the Kansas State Wildcats (4-1) on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at Virgin Islands Sport & Fitness Center. It begins at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN+.
Kansas State won at home over George Washington 83-71 last time out, and was led by David N’Guessan (17 PTS, 9 REB, 62.5 FG%) and Dug McDaniel (13 PTS, 5 AST, 2 STL, 45.45 FG%).
Liberty beat Louisiana 89-69 at home in its last game. Its top scorers were Kaden Metheny (20 PTS, 70 FG%, 4-6 from 3PT) and Taelon Peter (12 PTS, 62.5 FG%).
Prepare for this matchup with everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s college hoops action.
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Kansas State Wildcats vs. Liberty Flames
Game day: Sunday, November 24, 2024
Game time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Live stream: ESPN+ – Watch NOW
NCAA Basketball Odds and Betting Lines
Spread: Kansas State -2.5
Total: 134.5
College basketball odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 3:00 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
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Devin Neal put Kansas on his back with four touchdowns on his Senior Day as the Jayhawks rolled past #16 Colorado 37-21 for their third straight ranked win. Kansas kept its bowl eligibility hopes alive heading into its final game of the season.
Neal rushed for 207 yards on 37 carries and added 80 yards through the air. Jalon Daniels completed 14 of his 21 passes for 189 yards, and the defense made enough plays to come out with a win.
First quarter
Kansas got on the board first, relying on Devin Neal. He got the Jayhawks going on the ground before taking a quick pass out of the backfield for 51 yards to the house. Neal got four touches on six plays as Kansas took an early 7-0 lead.
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The dream start continued for the Jayhawks as the defense forced a three-and-out. Kansas bottled up two screens before Shedeur Sanders missed Travis Hunter on third down, and Colorado punted.
The Jayhawks had to settle for three points on their next drive, but they controlled the clock over a 7:46 possession. Sevion Morrison got five carries while Daniels picked up 20 yards on a scramble. The drive eventually stalled, and Tabor Allen hit a 24-yard field goal.
Colorado got its offense going on its second drive. Sanders completed three passes as the Buffaloes drove into Kansas territory.
Second quarter
The Buffaloes drive quickly came to an end after Tommy Dunn stopped Dallan Hayden in the backfield for a loss on third down. The Jayhawks stopped the run again on fourth down, taking over at their 41 yard line.
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Kansas took complete control, going down the field with ease. Daniels converted a third down with his legs, and found Trevor Kardell for a 23-yard pickup to put the Jayhawks into the red zone. Neal got into the end zone from nine yards out to give Kansas a 17-0 lead with 9:02 to play in the first half.
Colorado broke into the scoring column in quick fashion. Sanders picked up 17 yards on a scramble, then hit Hunter on a screen, who took it 51 yards for a touchdown.
Morrison picked up a 15-yard run before Neal gained 47 yards on a wildcat carry to get the ball into the red zone. However, Kansas wasn’t able to get into the endzone, with Allen hitting a 23-yarder to extend the Jayhawks’ lead to 20-7.
The Buffaloes inched closer as Sanders looked impressive. After a low, late hit, Sanders completed passes of 16, 25, and 19 yards. Drelon Miller made a pair of tough catches, including the 19-yard touchdown to cut Kansas’ lead to 20-14.
Kansas saw a positive two-minute drill, but once again had to settle for a field goal. Daniels picked up 31 yards on a QB draw and Neal got the Jayhawks into the red zone. However, Daniels threw incompletions on second and third and goal from the two. Allen made a 25-yard field goal to give Kansas a 23-14 lead heading into the half.
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Third quarter
Colorado got a 43-yard kickoff return to open a touchdown drive to put the Buffaloes right back in it. Sanders connected with Hunter for another touchdown, this time he was left open for a 26-yard touchdown to make the score 23-21.
Kansas went on a 10-play drive, getting whatever it wanted on the ground. Neal continued to run with his head on fire, picking up multiple 10-plus yard carries. He scored his third touchdown of the day, eventually getting into the end zone after three carries from inside the five to give the Jayhawks some breathing room, 30-21.
The Jayhawks defense got a stop for the first time in a while to help Kansas continue to build momentum. Dean Miller made a pair of big plays, stuffing a jet touch pass and getting pressure to Sanders as Kansas sacked him for the first time. Colorado punted, giving the Jayhawks the ball at their own 30.
Kansas’ offense continued to get whatever it wanted. The Jayhawks dialed up a couple of nifty plays to their tight ends. Daniels made a play with his legs again, picking up 12 yards before hitting Neal out of the backfield for 15 as Kansas drove into the red zone at the end of the quarter.
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Fourth quarter
Neal put the team on his back, rushing five straight times to get in the end zone for his fourth touchdown. He picked up a fourth-down conversion before getting into the end zone from two yards out to give Kansas a 37-21 lead with 11:47 to play.
Colorado drove into Kansas territory, but the Jayhawks defense bore down and forced a turnover on downs. The drive took 5:25 off the clock as Kansas looked to close in on another ranked win.
Kansas ran out the remaining 6:22, relying on Neal to close out the game.
No. 16 Colorado will face off against Kansas at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium today at 3:30 p.m. EST. Despite the Buff’s star power on both sides of the ball, our data model likes the Jayhawks’ chances to pull off the upset — our best for today is Kansas +2.5 (+102).
Ahead of this Big 12 matchup, the data analysts at Dimers.com have simulated the game 10,000 times, and then compared these results to current NCAAF betting odds to inform the data-driven betting preview provided to you below.
This preview includes Dimers’ best bets and predicted scoreline for Colorado vs. Kansas. To unlock Dimers’ full suite of data-driven betting insights, which includes daily props, trends, and parlays, sign up for Dimers Pro with promo code SYRACUSE10, which will save you 10% off your first subscription payment.
Bet365 is fully legal in Colorado, making this the perfect time for Buffs fans to claim huge betting bonuses with our brand new exclusive bet365 bonus code “SYRACUSE”, while sports fans in New York State can take full advantage of our NBA League Pass FanDuel promo code. Additionally, bettors are encouraged to check out this exclusive promo offer from DraftKings and the latest deal from BetMGM.
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Colorado vs. Kansas betting preview
Utilize the interactive widget below to discover the current spread, total, and moneyline odds and probabilities for the Colorado-Kansas matchup at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
This prediction and best bet for Saturday’s college football matchup between Colorado and Kansas is from Dimers.com, a trusted source for sports betting predictions.
Check out all the important details on today’s game, as well as the best odds sourced from the top sportsbooks in the country.
Game details
Key information on the Colorado vs. Kansas matchup, including where the game is and what time it kicks off.
Teams: Colorado vs. Kansas
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. EST
Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
NCAAF rankings: Updated AP Top 25
College football news: Check the latest updates from the official NCAA football news site
Odds
The latest and best odds for the college football showdown between the Colorado and Kansas.
Spread: Colorado -2.5 (-105), Kansas +2.5 (+102)
Moneyline: Colorado -135, Kansas +126
Total: Over/Under 59.5 (-108/-110)
The odds and lines presented in this article are the best available from selected sports betting site at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Expert prediction: Colorado vs. Kansas
Using state-of-the-art data analysis and machine learning, the experts at Dimers have executed 10,000 simulations of Saturday’s Colorado vs. Kansas game.
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According to Dimers’ independent predictive analytics model, Colorado is more likely to defeat Kansas at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. This prediction is based on the model giving Colorado a 56% chance of winning the game.
Elsewhere on the betting board, Dimers predicts that the bookmakers have got it right and Colorado and Kansas each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the 59.5-point over/under is also considered an equal 50-50 chance of hitting.
These predictions and probabilities are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.
Colorado vs. Kansas best bet
Our top pick for the Colorado vs. Kansas game on Saturday is to bet on Kansas +2.5 (+102).
This expert betting advice is based on cutting-edge modeling and valuable wagering intelligence, designed to assist you in making more informed investments.
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Score prediction for Colorado vs. Kansas
Dimers’ projected final score for the Colorado vs. Kansas game on Saturday has Colorado winning 30-28.
This expert prediction is based on each team’s average score following 10,000 game simulations, offering a glimpse into the potential outcome.
College football Week 13: Colorado vs. Kansas
Get ready for Saturday’s college football action between Colorado and Kansas at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. EST. We emphasize that all of the college football predictions and college football best bets on this page are derived from 10,000 data-driven simulations of the Colorado vs. Kansas matchup, and they are correct at the time of publication to help you make better decisions when placing bets at online sportsbooks.
Please note that when engaging in online betting, it is important to exercise responsible gambling practices and seek reliable sources for the latest and most accurate information.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Mac Douglass | Special Correspondent
Mac Douglass is the Senior Sports Betting Editor at Cipher Sports Technology Group. In addition to covering the sports betting industry for several news sites across the US, Mac provides Formula 1 analysis and betting tips for Dimers, and tennis commentary for Stats Insider.
Ryan Leaver | Special Correspondent
Ryan Leaver is a highly experienced sports betting digital content producer for Cipher Sports Technology Group. He boasts an impressive writing portfolio, contributing to prominent platforms like Dimers, Fox Sports, Stats Insider, and Triple M.
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