For 51s, today looks a lot like yesterday

Hollywood has romanticized the life of a professional baseball player, but reality is less like the fun-filled portrayal in "Bull Durham" and more like being stuck in "Groundhog Day."

In the 51s clubhouse, most players adhere to the same regimented routine for virtually every day of the five-month Pacific Coast League season. In fact, the days often blur together.

"You forget what day it is a lot," said 34-year-old infielder Chris Woodward, in his 17th professional season. "The only time you really know what day it is is on Sunday, because it's a day game."

The vast majority of Las Vegas' 144 games are played at 7:05 p.m. While each player's routine varies, Woodward usually starts his game day by 9:30 a.m. and ends it around 1 a.m.

Here is a typical day in his life:

■ 9:30 a.m. -- Woodward wakes up, and has breakfast at a rented home he shares with 51s outfielder Jason Lane and infielder Craig Stansberry.

Players are responsible for their own lodging, and they are scattered across the valley from Summerlin to Henderson. Some live alone, others with teammates or significant others in apartments, condos, homes and hotels.

■ 11 a.m. -- On most days, Woodward works out at Las Vegas Athletic Club -- where 51s players are members -- on his way to Cashman Field, which also has a weight room.

■ 1:30 p.m. -- Arrives at the ballpark. Gets treatment from trainer Voon Chong or hops in the hot tub. Gets ready to hit in the outdoor batting cage and eats lunch from the clubhouse spread.

■ 2:30 p.m. -- Hits in batting cage.

"Every guy's got their own routine, depending on what they're working on," he said.

■ 4 p.m. -- Stretches with the hitters. Takes batting practice, which is sometimes preceded by infield or outfield practice.

Woodward also takes infield practice in conjunction with batting practice.

In a symphony of cracks of the bat, players stationed on both sides of the cage simultaneously hit ground balls to infielders immediately after each ball is hit in "BP."

"Balls are flying everywhere," Woodward said. "It's like organized chaos, because we all know what's going on."

Still, when the timing is off, some fielders inevitably get drilled by line drives.

"(Brett) Lawrie smoked me earlier this year. He smoked me right on the back of my leg," Woodward said. "I see pitchers get hit in the head all the time. At least once a year, someone gets smoked out there (shagging fly balls)."

■ 5-6 p.m. -- Retreat to the clubhouse -- by 5:30 at home and 6 on the road -- until game time.

Players eat, play cards, watch television or do whatever they want. Some return to the outdoor cage for a final tuneup and get treatment or get taped to get ready for the game.

■ 6:30-6:40 p.m. -- Get dressed and head out to the field.

■ 7:05 p.m. -- Game time.

■ 10-11 p.m. -- Return to the clubhouse for a postgame meal, a shower and ice.

"Some teams I've been on, a lot of guys like to hang out and talk. (Others), everybody is out of here in five minutes," Woodward said. "It just depends. We've got some guys who like to hang out a little bit."

Although the 51s live in one of the world's foremost tourist locales, players tend to go to dinner or a bar as a group more on the road than in Las Vegas, where they'll typically just head home after a game.

"I'm kind of over Vegas," pitcher Rommie Lewis said. "I'm not much of a gambler. I'm not much of a drinker. I'm not much of a partyer. I have been, but I'm just over it."

■ 1 a.m. -- Go to sleep.

"During the season, it's hard to go to bed before 1," Woodward said. "It's hard to wind down and actually go to sleep."

■ 9:30 a.m. -- Wake up. Repeat.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.