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Bob Green's avatar

The Gracia ejection is frustrating because his actions were minor and now he can’t play in the first game of the Super Regionals. But rules are rules so Duke has to suck it up.

Ben Miller needs to get healthy in a hurry. We cannot afford to have Gracia and Miller out of the lineup simultaneously.

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Richard Jackson's avatar

Pollard was interviewed during the Oklahoma State game and said that Ben Miller would be ready by Super Regionals. He said it would be questionable whether he could be ready if Duke needed to play in the Monday regional game, but that the Duke medical staff was working as best they could to get him ready asap. Pollard said that his teammates were trying to rally to beat Ok State to give Miller some more play.

I could not be more furious about Gracia being ejected and suspended for the first super-regional game without a warning. I hope Nina King is vigorously involved in protesting this suspension and asking for him to be re-instated on an expedited appeal. Case for appeal:

"In 2023, NCAA Rule 5-2-d was updated to ban the use of celebratory props on the field of play after a home run, scoring play, or at the end of a half-inning. The penalty for violating this rule is an immediate warning, and subsequent violations can lead to ejection for the player or coach.

More detailed explanation

Penalty:

For a first offense, the umpire will typically issue a warning to the team. However, if a team continues to violate the rule, the offending..."

Any 1 minute review of the incident in question shows that anyone with any modicum of common sense knows that Gracia does not deserve to be suspended from the first game of our Super Regional for barely and briefly stepping out of the dugout with his earned hard-hat in his hand to congratulate his teammate in that situation.

Pollard said the same in his post-game interview, and Pollard said he needed to get his feelings on this off his chest even if it got him fined.

Gracia deserved a warning, and Gracia immediately returned to the dugout when signaled to do so by the umpire and his teammates. Fight hard on this Nina King. This team has battled so hard all season for a chance to finally break through to Omaha. They deserve that chance with their best players on the field.

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