Lucas Giolito on the COVID-19 uncertainty and what's next for White Sox

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article_body => "This time last week, Lucas Giolito was starting to ramp up his workload, prepping for what many expected would be an Opening Day start against the Kansas City Royals on March 26.<\/p>\nNow, and for the foreseeable future, Giolito has put everything in reverse while trying to prepare for a baseball season with an impossible-to-predict start date.<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s almost as if we\u2019ve dialed back to like January, like not even at spring training,\u201d Giolito said in a phone interview for the White Sox Talk Podcast.<\/p>\n\u201cWe had like half a spring training, and now we went back in time and it\u2019s like, 'OK, now we're getting prepared for spring training.'\u201d<\/p>\nBut when will spring training start up again? And what about the regular season? There are so many questions that are impossible to answer.<\/p>\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has created confusion and uncertainty all around us, and the White Sox and Major League Baseball are not excluded.<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s pretty surreal,\u201c Giolito said. \u201cFor me, for our team, it\u2019s been very strange, especially in the last four days in particular because we\u2019re getting information and the next day it\u2019s completely different. And then the next day it\u2019s completely different.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/6a5920aa-aab0-4e95-8af1-49bd0b17c545\/episodes\/d01ced68-9c67-449d-96fe-fc41a924326a\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\nWith the approval of the league, some White Sox players continue to work out at the team\u2019s spring training facility in Arizona, but Giolito said that those numbers are starting to dwindle.<\/p>\n\u201cA bunch of guys have been around, but a good amount of them are packing stuff up or leaving stuff at the field or getting ready to drive home or fly home.\u201d<\/p>\nThe great vibes that were bursting out of Camelback Ranch last week are gone for the time being, replaced by an entirely different feeling, a mode of detachment that is sweeping its way across the country as efforts to prevent the virus from spreading continue.<\/p>\n\u201cI pretty much wake up in the morning and get my work in while at the same time trying to practice the social isolation,\u201d Giolito said, \u201ctrying not to come into contact with too many people, just going in there, getting the work in and getting out.\u201d<\/p>\nGiolito\u2019s wife drove 10 hours from Northern California on Sunday to be with him. They\u2019d prefer to stay in Arizona, but that could change at any moment.<\/p>\n\u201cWe kind of want to stick around, but at the same time, if things continue to get more serious, then it\u2019ll be time to go home (to the Los Angeles area).\u201d<\/p>\nAnd if that happens, Giolito will have to make another adjustment to keep his body in shape.<\/p>\n\u201cWe don\u2019t really know if weight rooms are going to be open. It\u2019s kind of unsafe to even go into a public gym at this moment. I know across some states they\u2019re closing down gyms, so I have to be prepared to work out from home if need be,\u201d Giolito said. \u201cMy dog Louie might be my catch partner if things continue to get worse. We\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\nOne of the most respected young players in the White Sox clubhouse, Giolito understands the importance of being a good teammate. To fight and beat this virus, he says it will take teamwork from everyone.<\/p>\n\u201cThe biggest thing is people need to understand that this is a serious situation,\u201d Giolito said. \u201cI\u2019m not a fan of going on social media right now and seeing a bunch of people going out to bars and restaurants, not really caring, only worrying about themselves. I think if that continues to happen, it\u2019s only going to get worse and worse.<\/p>\n\u201cIf people understand what the situation is and take the necessary precautions \u2014 hang out at home, don\u2019t go out and do too many things, only do what\u2019s necessary \u2014 then I think it will pass and things will get better.<\/p>\n\u201cAt the same time, (I'm being) contradictory because I\u2019m going to the field every day and I\u2019m around people and I\u2019m working out in the weight room. It\u2019s weird because I do want to maintain, I do want to keep my body in shape, continue to throw off a mound, continue to do the things to prepare for an eventual season. But at the same time, you have to take the necessary precautions.<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s a weird spot for a professional athlete whose season is on hold.\u201d<\/p>\nFollowing one of the most exciting offseasons in team history, White Sox fans couldn\u2019t wait for the 2020 season to begin and for the good times to start rocking. That\u2019s made the delay of the season even tougher.<\/p>\nFans had to test their patience through a long rebuild. Now as the planet deals with this deadly virus, they\u2019ll have to wait a little longer.<\/p>\n\u201cSox fans out there, hang tight,\" Giolito said. \u201dWe\u2019re not going anywhere. We've just got to wait a little bit.<\/p>\n\u201dWe\u2019re all maintaining. We\u2019re all going to come back in good spirits, in good shape and get ready to roll.\u201d<\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2OmHoHH\">Click here<\/a> to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/white-sox\">White Sox<\/a> easily on your device.<\/em><\/p>\n"
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White Sox

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White Sox

This time last week, Lucas Giolito was starting to ramp up his workload, prepping for what many expected would be an Opening Day start against the Kansas City Royals on March 26.

Now, and for the foreseeable future, Giolito has put everything in reverse while trying to prepare for a baseball season with an impossible-to-predict start date.

“It’s almost as if we’ve dialed back to like January, like not even at spring training,” Giolito said in a phone interview for the White Sox Talk Podcast.

“We had like half a spring training, and now we went back in time and it’s like, 'OK, now we're getting prepared for spring training.'”

But when will spring training start up again? And what about the regular season? There are so many questions that are impossible to answer.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created confusion and uncertainty all around us, and the White Sox and Major League Baseball are not excluded.

“It’s pretty surreal,“ Giolito said. “For me, for our team, it’s been very strange, especially in the last four days in particular because we’re getting information and the next day it’s completely different. And then the next day it’s completely different.”

With the approval of the league, some White Sox players continue to work out at the team’s spring training facility in Arizona, but Giolito said that those numbers are starting to dwindle.

“A bunch of guys have been around, but a good amount of them are packing stuff up or leaving stuff at the field or getting ready to drive home or fly home.”

The great vibes that were bursting out of Camelback Ranch last week are gone for the time being, replaced by an entirely different feeling, a mode of detachment that is sweeping its way across the country as efforts to prevent the virus from spreading continue.

“I pretty much wake up in the morning and get my work in while at the same time trying to practice the social isolation,” Giolito said, “trying not to come into contact with too many people, just going in there, getting the work in and getting out.”

Giolito’s wife drove 10 hours from Northern California on Sunday to be with him. They’d prefer to stay in Arizona, but that could change at any moment.

“We kind of want to stick around, but at the same time, if things continue to get more serious, then it’ll be time to go home (to the Los Angeles area).”

And if that happens, Giolito will have to make another adjustment to keep his body in shape.

“We don’t really know if weight rooms are going to be open. It’s kind of unsafe to even go into a public gym at this moment. I know across some states they’re closing down gyms, so I have to be prepared to work out from home if need be,” Giolito said. “My dog Louie might be my catch partner if things continue to get worse. We’ll see what happens.”

One of the most respected young players in the White Sox clubhouse, Giolito understands the importance of being a good teammate. To fight and beat this virus, he says it will take teamwork from everyone.

“The biggest thing is people need to understand that this is a serious situation,” Giolito said. “I’m not a fan of going on social media right now and seeing a bunch of people going out to bars and restaurants, not really caring, only worrying about themselves. I think if that continues to happen, it’s only going to get worse and worse.

“If people understand what the situation is and take the necessary precautions — hang out at home, don’t go out and do too many things, only do what’s necessary — then I think it will pass and things will get better.

“At the same time, (I'm being) contradictory because I’m going to the field every day and I’m around people and I’m working out in the weight room. It’s weird because I do want to maintain, I do want to keep my body in shape, continue to throw off a mound, continue to do the things to prepare for an eventual season. But at the same time, you have to take the necessary precautions.

“It’s a weird spot for a professional athlete whose season is on hold.”

Following one of the most exciting offseasons in team history, White Sox fans couldn’t wait for the 2020 season to begin and for the good times to start rocking. That’s made the delay of the season even tougher.

Fans had to test their patience through a long rebuild. Now as the planet deals with this deadly virus, they’ll have to wait a little longer.

“Sox fans out there, hang tight," Giolito said. ”We’re not going anywhere. We've just got to wait a little bit.

”We’re all maintaining. We’re all going to come back in good spirits, in good shape and get ready to roll.”

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the White Sox easily on your device.