11's final ride begins today with season opener vs. Maine
It's going to be a season of lasts. So Florida State Baseball fans are going to have to get used to stories like these.
As the Seminoles begin their 2019 campaign, Mike Martin is set to coach in the last season opener of his record-breaking career.
"I'm excited," Martin said on Thursday afternoon. "Thank God I'm still excited. And I'm looking forward to seeing how this ball club matures as we go through a very tough schedule."
The Seminoles open with Maine today at 4 p.m. Drew Parrish, who was one of the top pitchers in the nation a season ago, gets the start on the mound against the Black Bears.
C.J. Van Eyk will pitch the opener of Saturday's doubleheader. Shane Drohan will pitch the nightcap, and then sophomore Austin Pollock will pitch the finale on Sunday.
Martin also said that he expects outfielder J.C. Flowers to be the team's closer as the season wears on — and they'll be looking to get him action early this season, whether it's a save situation or not.
The lineup is expected to have four freshmen in it, highlighted by outfielder Elijah Cabell and shortstop Nander de Sedas — both of whom have been named candidates for National Freshman of the Year by different publications.
And as much as others might want to talk about Martin's last season opener — after 40 years as the Seminoles’ head coach — he'd much rather discuss his newcomers' first season opener instead.
"Other than postseason play, it's the second most exciting day of a young man's career," he said. "Because they've worked hard, they're one day away from lining up and playing Opening Day at Florida State. The excitement, you can literally feel it in the air. ...
"There is no other day like it."
Maine went 20-34 overall a season ago and 12-12 in conference.
Danny Casals, a Miami native, is the best returning player for the Black Bears. The senior infielder hit 14 home runs and drove in 49 runs a season ago.
The Black Bears had a 5.88 ERA In 2018.
"We're definitely ahead of them when it comes to being prepared because of the weather," Martin said. "But we know what they're capable of doing. We know nothing would make them happier than coming down here and winning the series."
As for Martin's team, he said his core of sophomore pitchers has looked good in the preseason, and he's eager to see how they look in the four games this weekend.
"It won't be new to them," Martin said, "but it's evaluation time for them, and they know it."
The head coach also knows his young hitters are going to have their fair share of struggles this season. Because it's baseball. And everyone not named Buster Posey or J.D. Drew goes through slumps during the course of a 50-plus-game schedule.
"When you have freshmen, you don't know how they're going to react to failure," Martin said. "And it's crucial that they understand they're going to go through spurts where they're just miserable."
Martin was asked on Thursday if he thought he might coach any differently this season knowing it would be the last of his legendary career.
"You have to be yourself," he answered. "You can't try to be somebody else. You have to be who you are."
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