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(Chris Morris, The Plain Dealer)

Jason Kipnis' autograph shows he has signed off on this report.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Many baseball fans might think a player's working day lasts for the three hours or so that the game is being played. But that's hardly the case.

This is the third and last installment of Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff's in-depth look at a standard game-day routine of three members of the Indians, as told to him by the subjects in this three-part series. Today: Second baseman Jason Kipnis.

First two parts: Starting pitcher Justin Masterson, June 6. Reliever Vinnie Pestano, June 14.

Here is a look at an average day for Kipnis for a 7:05 night game at home:

Before coming to ballpark

• Sleep in.

"I've never been a morning person. I like my sleep. I'll sleep in until about 11, then pretty much head from my bed to the couch. It's a good transition to start my day, where I'm not just jumping into it. Slow and gradual. I'll watch TV -- ESPN, Comedy Central -- until about 12:15.

Arrival at ballpark

• Get to ballpark between 1:30 and 2 (periodically arrive with roommate Vinnie Pestano).

• Check greaser board in middle of clubhouse for daily schedule.

• Change into workout shorts and T-shirt.

• Eat.

"Chef Mark likes to keep it varied. I'll eat whatever he puts out. If it's a day game, two eggs and pancakes or waffles."

• Relax at locker and let food digest. Check handheld for messages, tweets.

• Review scouting report at about 2:35.

• Go to trainer's room for a stretch.

• Enter hot/cold tubs for about 20 minutes.

"The contrast is to help out the legs, help out the body, whether I'm feeling good or bad. You never know when you'll need it, and it's always going to help."

• If not nap, then go to indoor cage to hit off tee or flip toss.

• Available to media (one of Indians' most accessible players).

• Read newspapers or do crosswords puzzles or Sudoku.

Batting practice

• Leave clubhouse for on-field stretching at 4:10-4:15.

• Hit in batting practice group one (top of order).

"Typically 4-5 rounds, about five swings per round. First round: Go the other way, everything to left of second base. Just let ball travel as far as I can, to kind of find the barrel. Second round: up the middle. Third round: I'm starting to feel loose, swing starting to feel good, so more of pull round, maybe a home-run round. Fourth and fifth rounds: where it's pitched, mostly up the middle."

• Take grounders during group two.

"I start doing double plays first while Cabby (shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, currently on disabled list) throws across diamond. I will do flips at second, then, once Cabby's done, back up and throw to first. Do grounders to right, left, charging, in to my right, spin throw to left, backhands. If anyone is left, if anybody wants to turn any, I'll go to second and turn. That's my routine."

• Return to clubhouse after group two.

• Eat sushi.

"Spicy tuna and California roll will find their way onto the plate. And there's this other kind; I'm not even sure what it is, but I've started to like it."

Post-Battting Practice

• Sometimes naps, against wall and in front of locker, for 20-30 minutes. (For a player to take a power nap at some point pregame is not unusual. To nap the way Kipnis does is.)

"I use a towel for a pillow, put on my sweatshirt for some coziness and curl into a ball. It's more comfortable than you think. Sometimes, a stiff floor actually feels good on the back. I don't want to sleep on the couch in the middle of the clubhouse, because you're in the middle of the action, in the middle of all the noise, and it's bright. I often sleep behind a laundry bin and chair. I want people to think I'm not here."

• Enter hot/cold tubs for 20 minutes, roughly 5:50-6:10.

• Apply baby powder, front and back, and tape right wrist.

"Baby powder is a must."

• Get dressed for game at about 6:10.

• Re-check scouting report and watch opposing starter on TV near locker.

"I'll be watching his rhythm, miles per hour, what his ball does, what he likes to throw in certain counts. I pay special attention to what he likes to throw with two strikes, what he tries to do to get you out. What he does ahead in count, behind in count, first pitch."

• Get stretch from strength trainer Joe Kessler in training room.

• Hit off tee and flip toss at about 6:40.

"I want to build up a little sweat. If you're going bad, it's one reason to get in the cage. If you're going well, it's another reason to get in the cage. There are guys who are in the cage a lot more than I. For me, it's more to maintain, to get a feel for the bat, to be able to line it up."

• Listen to music.

"Before going out, I want to be in a good mood, where I've got a little bounce in my step to get the day going. I like Michael Jackson. Anything with a beat."

Near game time

• Put bats in rack before 6:50.

• Head to sideline to stretch.

• Run several sprints in the outfield.

• Throw, usually with third baseman.

• Drop glove, go to dugout fence and do leg swings and other stretches.

"They take about two minutes. They're not exactly in order, not exactly at a certain time, but they're something I do every game. I need to do it. I feel better when I do it.

"I'm one of the only ones who does legs swings. There's a reason for it. Growing up, I was a big fan of the Chicago Bulls. You watch all the Michael Jordan videos, and you see him and his teammates doing all these legs swings in the hallways, against the walls, before the games. That's 100 percent where I got it from. It gets the hips and hamstrings loosened."

• Visit "Coffee Room" beyond dugout.

"If I have enough time, or if I think I need a pick-me-up, I'll make myself a cup."

• Begin handshakes with teammates in dugout after National Anthem.

"There's a bunch of handshakes that you have with guys. Different handshakes for different guys. They also actually help me get stretched. Everyone has one with guys on the team. You've done them so many times, it becomes routine."

• Consume Gatorade Prime 01 Pre-Game Fuel, a 4-ounce pouch supplying carbs and B-vitamins.

• Take two Advil.

• Put in eyedrops.

• Stretch on bench.

In-Game

• Take grounders between innings.

"One forehand, one backhand. If I can get in a third one, it will be where I go toward second base and pretend I'm turning the double play."

• Move to on-deck area.

"Apply pine tar to bat handle, rosin to batting gloves, just enough to feel good. I'll start with the white sleeve weight on the bat. If I get a hit or walk or have good at-bat, I'll stay with sleeve weight. If not, I'll switch to the black donut, which is lighter. If I'm 0-for-2, I'll go to a third one.

"When it's time to hit, I'll take a swing, then bend down to touch toes for a hamstring stretch. Sometimes I'll also bend down into a squat for the quads."

• Prepare to get into the box.

"Walking up to the plate, I hold the barrel, not the handle. I'll look into the crowd, somewhere behind home plate or in upper deck. I don't know why.

"I'll do my batting gloves right before I step in. I keep the same gloves as long as they have hits in them.

"I'll outline the outside half of the plate before the pitch."

• Swing Sam Bat (maple).

"I used ash last year. I've always liked ash and the way it feels, the way the ball comes off the bat. But I know maple has been a little more of a durable bat; it doesn't break as easily. With a Sam Bat, I feel like I get the best of both worlds: It's maple and really strong, but at the same time, when you hit the ball, it feels like an ash bat. My bat has the "Bonds finish'' -- cherry-red handle with black barrel."

• Consume water or "Gatorlytes" packets.

Postgame

• Take one or two bottles of water into steam room.

"When I'm done with the water, I'm done with the steam room."

• Use hot/cold tub for 5-10 minutes.

"More cold tub this time, for recovery."

• Available to media.

• Eat.

"It's always good to get in a meal after a game, because you're usually drained and you sweat more than you know. Nothing specific, but I try to make sure there's protein somewhere."

• Leave clubhouse for players' parking lot.

• Go to fence to sign autographs.

• Leave for home.

"I'm usually one of the last ones out."