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Justin Masterson's day at work -- during a start -- has a lot more to it that simply showing up at the ballpark.

(Chris Morris, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- To many fans, it might seem as if a baseball player's working day lasts for the three hours or so that the game is being played. But that's hardly the case.

Here's an in-depth look at a standard home game day of three members of the Indians, as told to him by the subjects, in a three-part series. Today, pitcher Justin Masterson; June 14, reliever Vinnie Pestano; June 21, second baseman Jason Kipnis.

This is an average day for Masterson when he starts a night game at home.

Before coming to ballpark

(Previous night)

Some fresh guacamole signals the start of another pitching assignment.

• Consume feta avocado dip prepared by wife, Meryl.

"It's got some diced tomatoes, red-wine vinaigrette and other things thrown in there. I'll use Wheat Thins or tortilla chips. It's delicious, so I just chomp on that. If we're on the road, I try to get guacamole somewhere. I like avocados."

(Day of start)

• Awaken 8:30-9:15 a.m. and spend time with daughter, Eden Joy.

• Consume Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

"It works by itself, but every once in a while, I'll throw in some yogurt, granola. Maybe blueberries."

• Do not eat too much cereal, or anything else.

"I don't like to do something extreme on a full stomach. I figured this out when I was going to high school basketball practice in the morning; I'd have a good breakfast and go and feel too heavy, or burp it up or something. When I was doing something somewhat strenuous, I never enjoyed sensing there was something in my stomach. So I eat something light and charge up afterward."

• Hang out at home, late morning/early afternoon.

"I'll probably watch a movie, something like 'Shawshank Redemption,' 'The Fugitive' or 'US Marshals.'"

• Do not do things exactly the same every five days.

"Certain stuff is similar, the order is somewhat similar, but I try to keep it fresh, keep it real. My superstition, if you will, is probably doing everything a little bit different. It's so that, just in case you were in a routine where you couldn't do the same thing, you wouldn't be freaked out that you couldn't do it the next time."

• Sandwich at about 1.

At ballpark

• Arrive 2 1/2 to 3 hours before game (arrives much earlier for games he's not starting).

• Change into workout shorts and T-shirt.

• Check opposition lineup that is on chair at locker.

• Consume protein shake.

"Usually vanilla, but I'm open to chocolate. I want to get it in early so I can let it work through."

• Take "nap" for 20-30 minutes, by timer. "It's more like laying down. The goal is to get good breathing going. It's quiet time, meditation, prayer time. Relaxed and peaceful. I'll listen to music, too."

• Go to weight room to continue relaxation time. Might do light stretching, but never any weights on day of start.

"No music, but there are a couple of televisions. I'll watch whatever's on."

• Embrace nervousness.

"No matter who you are, where you are or what you're doing, when it's your day, there's always a hint of anxiety. Even if you're as confident as you can be, there's always that tidbit. I think that's what makes you realize you're still alive."

Final 65 minutes before game

• Begin stretching in earnest at about 6 p.m. Session will last 25-30 minutes."Full-body stretching. Nothing specific, just normal stretches. Slow, easy process. We're not being strenuous about it."

Scouting reports are gone over carefully -- unless they're not.

• Go over scouting report during stretching.

"If there's a guy I'm unsure about, I'll ask a question. Sometimes I don't look at the scouting report because I know that when my sinker's working, there will be a lot of sinkers. Some of my game planning will be, just in case my sinker's not moving as well, I want to know a couple of go-to places for certain guys."

• Put on uniform.

"Regular socks, sliders (padded sliding shorts), Adidas shirt underneath. I'm sponsored by Adidas, so I wear their gear. I don't have any rituals. From start to start, there's nothing I have to keep wearing if I'm going well. But there have been times when I've been struggling a bit, and I'll throw some cleats away or get a new glove. My philosophy is, make a physical change so you don't get sidetracked mentally."

• Begin working way to bullpen at 6:35.

"Six thirty-five for a 7:05-7:10 game is when my clock really starts. It's when the party starts."

• Long toss in outfield at 6:40, for 5-7 minutes.

It's a Field of Dreams moment when Masterson has a catch ... with pretty much anybody.

"Nice and easy. Usually with bullpen catcher Armando Camacaro. I don't usually meet with the (starting) catcher unless I have some pressing questions. We know each other well enough."

• Hug Camacaro.

"Anybody who plays catch with me gets a hug, and I tell him thank you."

• Take bullpen mound at about 6:50. Throw roughly 23 pitches to starting catcher.

"I'll start from the windup and throw four-seamers down and away, then a couple of sinkers, a couple of Loch Ness Monsters (mystery pitch) and a couple of sliders. I'll go to the stretch, then finish from windup with three pitches: sinker, sinker, four-seam fastball. I always end on a four-seam fastball because I want to throw a ball as hard as I can, to let it eat."

What is the Loch Ness Monster pitch for Masterson? That remains a secret.

• Stay in bullpen area until National Anthem is done.

• Exchange fist pounds with bullpen personnel upon leaving for dugout.

• Talk with game catcher about signs to be used with man on second.

• Arrive in dugout and high-five teammates.

"I'm a high-five guy more than a fist-pound guy. I've found that, sometimes when guys want to go with the fist pound, they come too hard with it. The high-fives are a little easier. I'll fist-pound in the bullpen because the pitchers know to go soft."

In-game

• Use spikes to draw cross on back of mound.

"I want to remind myself why I'm here, why I'm in this life. I'm always giving thanks on the field."

• Warmup pitches before first pitch and between innings are almost always four-seamers, down and away. All are from the windup until the last one, which is from the stretch.

"I have my catcher set up on the outer half. It helps me get through the ball. I know if that's going well, the rest should be OK, too."

• Between innings, go down to "coffee room" between dugout and hallway to clubhouse. "I'll take off the cap and chill until two outs. The game's on TV down there. After two outs, I'll put the cap back on and return to the bench."

• Don't mess with right arm.

"I've used heat rub a few times during games over the years. It's fun, it might help you mentally so you can concentrate on throwing the ball, but I generally don't use it. I don't like to do anything to the arm. I want the natural feel."

• Drink water and consume several Gatorade gel packs.

"I don't like to drink the actual Gatorade. Bad taste."

• Gauge hitters' reactions to the repertoire.

"At this point in my career, I have an idea of what I want to do. As a guy who relies predominantly on one pitch, my approach is fairly simple: work off the sinker. I like to do my game-planning while I'm out there. Even if I've faced a guy, I want to see how he's reacting and make an assessment from there."

• Occasionally joke with position players.

"I don't think anybody feels bad about coming to talk with me."

Athletes know that a good cool down after a performance often includes some time on the exercise bike.

End of start

• If reliever comes in during an inning, stay in dugout until he finishes.

"Most guys do that as a sign of respect."

• Walk to clubhouse.

"I'll take off cleats, take off jersey, put on shorts and T-shirt, put on my sandals and go to trainer's room and hang out."

• Do not ice.

"I've iced before, but it's just not for me. When I was a reliever and iced, I felt sluggish the next day. It's not like I'm anti-ice. It works for others, not for me."

• Exercise and stretch right arm with cord/band.

"The goal is to keep it loose. I don't touch weights at any point on day of a start."

• Stationary bike for 10 minutes, depending on how legs feel.

• Watch remainder of game in trainer's room or in clubhouse.

It's almost always a chalupa night for Justin Masterson, win or lose.

"I never go back into the dugout. The way I see it is, I did my piece, and now the relievers are in and it's their game."

• If Indians win, stand at clubhouse door and give high-fives.

• If Indians lose, quietly seek out certain guys who played well.

• Fulfill media obligation.

"I don't mind answering questions, especially if they're good ones."

• Shower and eat.

"At this point, I'm decently hungry. Whatever is on tap in clubhouse, I'm going to pound. And I'll drink plenty of water."

Going home

Officially verified as Justin Masterson's day at the office.

• Leave about an hour after game is over.

• Stop at Taco Bell.

"I will get some Taco Bell -- a little T-Bizzle -- drive thru when I'm feeling right. Beef baja chalupa, crispy potato soft taco and beefy crunchy burrito."

All illustrations by The Plain Dealer's Chris Morris.