Baseball pants and jerseys shrink if put in the dryer, so clubhouse manager Mitch Poole and his staff wash everything immediately and hang it to dry overnight.
Chemical cleansers and a scrub brush take care of most stains. Jose "Peps" Castillo patches up the "blowouts" — rips and tears.
"We do a pretty good job," Poole said. "You can't notice from the stands or even on television."
As clubhouse chores stretched into the early-morning hours, security guards shifted from locking doors to cruising the perimeter, keeping watch on acres of darkened parking lots. They were not alone.
"Once in a while you find someone trying to jump the fence," guard Pedro Reynoso said. "Mostly it's coyotes and possums, all kinds of animals."
::
A lot of the people who work overnight at Dodger Stadium say that sunrise is their favorite time. The new light casts their ballpark in gentle hues.
On Wednesday morning, the groundskeepers — back after a short rest — had another reason to be pleased. Clear skies meant the dirt would soon dry to a desired consistency.
That allowed Hansen to "nail" again and do a little fine-tuning. Some Dodgers players like a smooth surface while others prefer more texture; he can tailor different sections of the infield accordingly.
In the outfield, a mower began cutting those familiar diamonds while workers scoured the turf on foot, picking out clumps of hard clay and other jetsam.
"Certain players make a great mess with sunflower seeds," Hansen said. "But at least you can get those with a mower. Pumpkin seeds, you've got to rake those up or use a vacuum."
Down in the clubhouse, bat boy Javier Herrera rubbed his red eyes — he had slept only briefly on a couch — as the first players arrived nearly four hours before game time.
Each locker was in perfect order, uniforms hung neatly, shoes in line. All the desired food was on hand, thanks to daily shopping trips that Poole makes to Costco and Trader Joe's.
"Donuts, sandwich stuff, snacks," he said. "A lot of guys like those Kettle chips."
Maybe the veterans take it for granted, but infielder Justin Sellers, who spent most of last season in the minors, was impressed. "That's why they call it the big leagues," he said. "Everything's so nice."
By 9 a.m., the pace around Dodger Stadium began to quicken with tractors bringing cases of hot dog buns and huge sacks of popcorn to the concession stands. Hundreds of ushers and ticket takers soon arrived to attend briefings.
A different sort of group gathered in a small courtyard outside the ballpark, scores of uniformed guards and more than a dozen LAPD officers reviewing their daily assignments.
Security remains a sensitive issue a year after San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was viciously beaten in the parking lot. Employees declined to discuss the matter.
They soon deployed throughout the property, needing to be in position when parking lots opened at 10 a.m. On the top deck, Lopez was back at her concession stand, also hurrying to get ready.
Much like the players arriving in their clubhouse, fans expect Dodger Stadium to look pristine the moment they step inside. After so many years, Lopez knows the drill.
It is a routine that starts over again with the Dodgers' home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
She broke up the crushed ice in her bins, which had frozen solid overnight, and refilled the relish and onion trays at the condiment station. She warmed the cheese for nachos.
"There is a lot to do," she said. "Things that people don't see."
PHOTOS: Pitch to pitch: A behind the scenes look at Dodger Stadium
twitter.com/LATimesWharton
