While Gonzalez wears team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek's seal of good health, manager Dusty Baker admits he'll be "watching every step he takes."

Said Baker, "They say he is 100 percent today, but will he be 100 percent five days in a row or eight days in a row?

"We have to test him and monitor him because he is going to be chomping at the bit. Our job is to check him out, program him, observe any changes in his walk, run, gait, anything. He is the guy I pray for the most when they talk about health.

"When they were saying last winter that they weren't counting on him, I said, 'I'm counting on him,' because I believe in miracles."

Of his importance, Baker said, "At shortstop, he gets more balls up the middle than anybody. We have a Gold Glover at second (Brandon Phillips), Ramon Hernandez is good behind the plate and Willy Taveras is capable of a Gold Glove.

"We're capable of pure Gold up the middle," Baker added.

And it isn't only defense that Baker sees in the return of Gonzalez. He is looking for some pop from his bat, too.

"We're trying to offset some of the power we lost," he said. "We have more speed than ever, but you need relative power, too, sometimes. You need both."

Gonzalez, after surgery and hard work, says he is ready for any test they want to give him.

"I've done a lot of stuff - workouts, weights, rehab, hitting, fielding, losing weight - to be ready for spring training," he said. "I'll be able to do everything. I never stopped working, all year."

Gonzalez worked out late this winter in Venezuela and said he was ready to play winter ball for them, "But they wouldn't let me."

As for missing a year, Gonzalez said, "It's hard, very hard. You have to be strong in the mind and just forget last year and focus on this year."