One era of Florida State baseball came to an end last week and another has began.
In his introductory interview, head coach Mike Martin Jr. made it a point to note that this was a brand new era for the Seminoles. An assistant for more than two decades, Martin takes over for his father, Mike Martin, who retired after 40 years as the head man and closer to 50 totaling his time as a player and assistant.
The elder Martin retires as the winningest college head coach in any sport with 2,029 victories to his name. Despite that, the younger Martin looks to be more “modern” as he takes over in 2020.
More moves are expected soon, but the younger Martin has already fulfilled one vow with the addition of Mike Metcalf, a scout for Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants. Metcalf is the former head coach at Port Charlotte High School and was the recruiting coordinator for Florida Southern College.
Metcalf will fill one of FSU’s full-time assistant coaching vacancies and will be the program’s primary recruiter and deal with hitting as Martin Jr. previously had. The younger Martin has yet to hire a pitching coach.
As to what happens in the coming weeks with Tyler Holt and Clyde Keller remain to be seen. Holt, also a former FSU player, gained valuable experience this past season as a volunteer assistant.
Keller took over in 2019 for long-time pitching coach Mike Bell, who left to take the head coaching job at Pittsburgh. As a staff, the Seminoles posted a 4.42 ERA last season, but were much better in the NCAA Tournament.
In eight NCAA Tournament games this season, FSU went 6-2. In 65 innings, FSU hurlers combined to post a 3.05 ERA with 75 strikeouts. There is speculation that Keller will have some role with Florida State again in 2020, but in what capacity remains to be seen.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We apologize for not publishing an article for Hot Take Tuesday. With FSU athletics in its offseason, “What to Watch For Wednesday” may be replaced with “What If Wednesday” until the new athletic year begins.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.
Nashknows
June 26, 2019 at 7:43 pm
11’s teams have lack footwork, effort, diversity, speed, ability to play small ball, focus and have been error prone. Anyone that thought 11 could bring home a national championship was wrong. Period. Another fact: 11 padded the 1st 20 plus games of every season, and typically peak in March (look it up). Moreover *Augie won 5 titles bunting the ball in “the age of aluminium bats”. LSU 6 titles in 18 trips. UM 4 titles all on his watch, and 11 never learned, or worked harder or smarter. You can’t win the Masters with a 1 wood. And you cant win in Omaha without small ball. Also, luck does not win national championships, grinders do, returning seniors do and really great coaching does. So “The baseball Gods got it right for 40 years.”
Meat, without Speed, footwork, and diversity you have no shot. But like 11, the bank account looks good and that is all that really matters. Au revoir any chance of a National Title for FSU. Au revoir.
Nash 86 alum.