FSU Baseball: Former Noles QB defends Mike Martin after regional blunder
By Jason Parker
FSU baseball is home watching the rest of the NCAA tournament – and outspoken Nole grad Danny Kanell is defending the Noles head coach after the early exit.
In the days that have passed since the FSU baseball team was swept out of the NCAA tournament – as a national seed playing in their home stadium – there has been a growing chorus of people wondering if time is up for longtime head coach Mike Martin after yet another season without a title.
The issue is more than just the Seminoles not winning the ring, but the growing criticism after Martin sent starter Drew Parrish out for the ninth inning following a two and a half hour rain delay – after Parrish had thrown over 100 pitches before the delay.
It’s a move that has plenty of people – including some FSU baseball supporters and media members – wondering if time is up for No. 11. There is one person who is vocal about not feeling that way, and he is coming out swinging against those saying this one moment should define his career.
Danny Kanell, who is known more for his time as quarterback for the Seminoles’ football team, spent two seasons playing for Martin while at Florida State – and defended his former coach while calling out critics.
If anyone thinks Mike Martin just flippantly put his pitcher back in the game without giving it careful consideration than you don't know him. And if you think it's a fireable offense? That's just asinine.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) June 5, 2018
Too many people who have never been in pressure packed, highly competitive scenarios sit back and type away hot takes thinking they know all the answers. There are times when you have to take calculated risks and let your players compete. Period.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) June 5, 2018
Now, I will agree with Kanell that one move should not define a 39 year career in coaching – but he is dead wrong on this subject because many are using what took place last weekend as ANOTHER reason why it might be time to move on with a new coach for FSU baseball.
Dealing with the most recent case, Martin has a job to do what is best for the team. Once he admitted after the game that he kept Parrish in because the pitcher wanted the ball, that’s where the argument comes into play about it being time to move on. Martin has to be smart in that situation, but he has shown a stubborn streak of late that has hurt the team.
I get that titles aren’t everything (you can’t say Trent Dilfer is a better quarterback than Dan Marino because he has a Super Bowl title), but it does play a role after over a dozen trips to Omaha. Even more than that would be the decisions on the field with personnel that offset some of the 1,987 wins that were accumulated over his career.
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Kanell is someone who has let his love for FSU baseball and football – and the school as a whole – be known throughout his time in the pro game and his transition into the media world. On this one, though, he might be on the wrong side of the subject.