Bochy fired up: Baseball in air
PEBBLE BEACH — Giants manager Bruce Bochy gazed at the gallery surrounding the practice green in advance of Tuesday’s charity shootout at Pebble Beach. The crowd energized him, no question.
To play golf? Not really.
To start spring training? Absolutely.
“It gets you charged up,” Bochy said. “We have so many fans here, and they’re all geared up for the season. The Super Bowl’s over; it’s time to talk baseball and get ready. I love it.
“I wish my golf game was a little better, but other than that, it’s hard to beat this.”
Bochy and his cohorts — pitchers Matt Cain and George Kontos, plus former outfielder Randy Winn — won the shootout against their 49ers counterparts. The Giants won three “skins” in the five- hole match, raising $ 60,000 for their community fund; the 49ers earned $ 40,000 for their charitable foundation.
Cain and Kontos teamed to make par and take the decisive 18th hole. Cain did his part by crushing a drive estimated at 340 yards.
This followed his pre-shootout self- assessment, in which he said, “I’ll try to hit it as far as I can and see where it goes.”
Four retired players represented the 49ers: quarterbacks Steve Young and Steve Bono, wide receiver Dwight Clark and offensive tackle Harris Barton.
Pairings to watch: Here’s the distinctiveness of this tournament, in tidy synopsis: The first entry on the pairings sheet includes Tim Herron and Larry the Cable Guy, playing together. Now that doesn’t happen at any other tour stop.
Among other notable groupings:
Long hitters Bubba Watson and J. B. Holmes will play in the same foursome. Watson ranks fourth on the PGA Tour in driving distance, averaging 317.7 yards; Holmes is fifth at 316.8.
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers will play in the same group as Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. They met in the NFC divisional playoffs, and Fitzgerald’s overtime touchdown trumped Rodgers’ Hail Mary touchdown pass at the end of the fourth quarter.
Jordan Spieth/ Jake Owen are playing alongside Dustin Johnson/ Wayne Gretzky. The group immediately behind them includes Justin Rose and Justin Timberlake.
Young and Alex Smith, former 49ers quarterbacks, are in the same group: Young with pro partner Luke Donald, Smith with Ben Martin.
“The Super Bowl’s over; it’s time to talk baseball and get ready. I love it.” Bruce Bochy, Giants manager