The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Longo alters routine amid pandemic
“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” — Rogers Hornsby, Hall of Fame infielder
Rogers Hornsby, who played primarily for the Cardinals in a 23-year career that began in 1915, would still be staring out his window if he were alive today, confused and waiting for a signal from President Donald Trump, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred — from anyone with authority to say when baseball will resume in 2020.
Major League Baseball on March 12 suspended spring training and announced opening day, scheduled for March 26, would be delayed at least two weeks because of the novel coronavirus. Just one day earlier, Mitch Longo, a non-roster invitee to the Indians’ major-league spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., along with 12 other invitees, was reassigned to the minor-league camp.
No one knows when baseball will celebrate opening day. MLB announced March 16 the season would start in mid-May at the earliest.
The Indians on March 19 closed their complex in Goodyear, Ariz., told everyone employed in Cleveland to work from home and sent home players that had been in Arizona — at least those who wanted to leave.
Longo chose to stay in Arizona, where he shares a townhouse with a friend. Longo and others who did not return home are following social distancing guidelines by living in separate rooms. That is the least abrupt change to what had been his spring training routine.
“It’s literally insane,” Longo said in a phone interview with The NewsHerald. “I would get up every day at 5 a.m., get to the facility at 5:45, and get in the hot and cold tubs. That whole process takes a while, but the way I train my body is a pretty meticulous routine.
“Whenever you move off that, your body starts feeling not as ideal as when I was doing that stuff. That’s been the biggest difference for me — that I don’t have the availability of all those resources at the facility, but I have to improvise. Winners adjust. You have to figure it out.”
Longo and the other players reassigned in normal circumstances would learn at the end of spring training where they will be playing this season. Longo, a Mayfield graduate, will be playing at Double-A Akron or Triple-A Columbus when and if baseball resumes.
For now, though, all Longo can do is stay in shape and stare out his window as Hornsby did 100 years ago.
“For what it’s worth, I thought I did a pretty good job with the opportunity I had,” Longo said. “It was kind of a shame to go out on a high note and see everything shut down, but at this point it (COVID-19) is a lot bigger than baseball.”
The Indians went into spring training with nine outfielders on their 40man roster, making Longo’s chances of making the 26-man roster when camp broke slimmer than slim. But Manager Terry Francona at Tribe Fest said the Indians’ development personnel determined Longo earned the time with the Indians in spring training because of the way he has steadily improved since being selected by the Tribe in the 14th round of the 2016 draft.
“It was a great experience,” Longo said. “I played in all but two games. I didn’t really have many expectations coming in because I’ve never experienced (the major-league camp) before.
“Every time I got in, I tried to make something happen and showcase what I can do to help the ball club. A few of those opportunities went great. A few I had to learn a hard lesson, but that’s how the game goes sometimes.”
Longo went 7-for-19 (.368) with four singles and three doubles in 14 Cactus League games. He scored five runs and stole one base. He did not homer or drive in any runs. He walked twice and struck out three times and played errorless ball in the outfield.
“Mitch made a strong impression in camp,” Indians president Chris Antonetti said on a conference call. “First and foremost, he’s a great person and a great competitor. He’s a guy that takes advantage of every opportunity in front of him.
“He came in and played really hard. He ran every ball out. He played well in the outfield. Whenever it is we resume games, he’ll have benefited from his time in major-league spring training.”
Just as here, gyms are closing in Arizona. Longo said he has been told to stay inside when possible, so he and his friend have set up a weight room in their garage.
Longo trains outside when he can, but, “You have to be smart about it,” he said.
A food service delivers meals to his doorstep weekly.
With the Goodyear facility and other venues with batting cages closed, Longo can’t hit baseballs with a bat, so he hits Whiffle golf balls with PVC pipe.
“It’s a weird time,” Longo said. “At the end of the season last year, I was really looking forward to the offseason so I could get back to work and prove to myself I could make adjustments to come back strong, have a good spring and set myself up for success during the season.
“I thought I had a pretty good start, then all this stuff happens. Now basically we have to do it all over again because I imagine we’ll build back up at some point. There are all these theories of what they’re going to do, but no one knows.
“I miss baseball. I hope it comes back quickly, but at the same time I want whatever is going on outside to go away. Like I said, it’s bigger than baseball. A lot of these guys have families. You hate to see the baseball world and the world in general take a plunge because we’re being irresponsible.”
Longo played in 90 games with the RubberDucks last season. He hit .248 with 17 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 29 RBI in 327 at-bats.
“First and foremost, he’s a great person and a great competitor. He’s a guy that takes advantage of every opportunity in front of him.”
Indians President Chris Antonetti ,on outfielder Mitch Longo