Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

49ers coach Mike Singletary announced Monday what had become pretty obvious. Shaun Hill is going to be the opening-day starter in San Francisco.

Singletary had said Sunday he needed more time to make a decision. He probably also needed time to speak with both players. As noted Sunday:

While neither Alex Smith nor Shaun Hill has made a strong statement this summer, Hill appears to be the logical choice at this point.

And with Smith suffering a thumb injury making a tackle Saturday night -- X-rays were negative and Smith's status is day to day -- it's tough to fathom how he could win the job.

Put another way: The 49ers could give him the job, but could he really win it?

Smith has made a stronger run for the job this summer than he did when shoulder injuries slowed and finally sidelined him during the 2008 preseason. The fifth-year pro is finally healthy, except for the thumb, but he simply hasn't overtaken Hill.

Naming a starter sooner beats naming one later, especially when the decision seems obvious. Smith needed to score a decisive victory. That never happened. He now enters the regular season without any pressure. If Hill falters, the bar will be set lower for Smith.