Healthy roster feels like 'different ball club' to FSU's Martin
Mike Martin makes a point to not use injuries as an excuse. He can, however, appreciate what it means to have a healthy roster.
Florida State is 2-0 in the ACC Tournament at Durham, N.C. The Seminoles (36-19) were off Friday and will face regular-season conference champion Miami (45-10) at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The winner will play in the ACC title game Sunday.
"Well, I think the big thing is we've got a couple of guys back that were hurt," Martin told Warchant by phone Friday. "We got Jackson Lueck back in the lineup. [Redshirt senior pitcher Mike] Compton is back pitching. Jim Voyles is back pitching. We're a different ball club than we were a few weeks ago."
FSU lost Voyles for a stretch after he was struck with a line drive to the head against Notre Dame on April 24. A week later, Lueck sustained an injury at Clemson.
Compton's arm needed rest, and he was held out of the starting rotation for the final two weekend series -- at Duke and at Dick Howser Stadium against Miami.
Even freshman catcher Cal Raleigh played with the flu against the Hurricanes.
The Seminoles finished the regular season with six losses in their final eight games, but they did win, 3-2, in a 10-inning affair with the Hurricanes to end the regular season on May 21.
"We're not doing anything different," Martin said. "We got guys back who were hurt. That's the way I will always answer that question. It's nice to have everyone back."
FSU opened the pool play portion of the tournament with a 7-3 win over North Carolina State on Wednesday. A day later, the Seminoles captured a 6-1 win over Georgia Tech.
Sophomore starter Drew Carlton went five innings against the Wolfpack, while freshman Cole Sands, a former Tallahassee North Florida Christian star, also went five innings against the Yellow Jackets.
"Mike Bell is doing an excellent job in bringing these young pitchers along," Martin said of FSU's pitching coach. "You go into an ACC Tournament -- among all these teams -- starting a sophomore and two freshmen. Shows you how he's doing a great job."
Martin said freshman and former Tallahassee Lincoln star Tyler Holton will get the start against the No. 3 Hurricanes on Saturday.
Holton delivered arguably the best start of his career when he faced Miami in the second game of a doubleheader last weekend. He threw six innings and allowed one run on two hits while striking out eight batters.
"I liked his approach to the game," Martin said of Holton's last start. "He was very poised and in control of his emotions. He did a very good job. We would certainly take that same outing again."
A healthy roster aside, another thing that's helped the Seminoles is the atmosphere that comes with the tournament. To lighten the mood, Martin said the team held its second putt-putt golf tournament when they arrived Monday.
Sophomore pitcher Steven Wells won the tournament, while redshirt senior outfielder Nick Graganella took home the coveted "Worst Dressed" award.
"We've had a great turnout of parents too," Martin said. "Guys are either going out with their parents or going to the ballpark or going to the mall. They're going to a movie or they're walking around, but it's been nice."
On Saturday, they will get back to business.
"Put it this way, it's Miami-Florida State," Martin said. "Don't give a flip if we're playing a Monday game at 8 in the morning. It's going to be competition."
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