By Tom Krasovic
Union Tribune Staff Writer
March 3, 1999
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Country singer Garth Brooks learned firsthand yesterday what can be discovered only by standing in a batter's box: Laying off a high fastball is a lot easier than it looks.
"I don't know why I couldn't just sit there and take it," said Brooks, disgusted with himself. "It was way out of the strike zone."
In his first game at-bat against a professional pitcher, Brooks hacked wildly at a 1-2, neck-high fastball and struck out.
It was Brooks' only at-bat in yesterday's intrasquad game.
"I really didn't expect any more," said manage Bruce Bochy. "It was his first at-bat against live pitching. There were a lot of hitters overmatched today."
Batting right-handed, Brooks hit two foul balls in his five-pitch duel with Class AAA right-hander Salvador Rodriguez.
He attempted to slap the ball toward right field, behind baserunner Matt Halloran.
"I got my weight back and got ready for the pitch, and the next thing I know, I'm feeling stupid," he said. "It hacked me off. These guys spent too much time with me for me to do that. They had it for me. It was there." "As soon as that happens you want to go:'Dumb(bleep). Sorry, sorry Matt, I was trying to get you over a base.' You want to do all that stuff, but you can't. You've just got to walk back in."
"The hard thing is as soon as it happens, you can't turn around and talk to anyone."
Brooks was angry, but not down.
"Overall," he said, "it was truly cool."
Note** Garth finished Spring Training with a 1-22 hitting record, but as you can imagine he was a huge hit with the fans and players.
Tiffany (Amy's Daughter)and Garth
