Look at what the Tigers did for the fans and Detroit at-large last season. And there’s probably not as big a mountain to climb in KC.

But consider a few other things:

When was the last time the Royals played in front of 41,000 fans at home (and nearly all of the fans were Royals fans)? I’m sure the Royals were a bit juiced up about the atmosphere. I’m old enough to remember when KC fans were among the best in baseball. They’re dying for a winner there.

Schill allowed five runs with two outs. When you can’t finish the job with two outs, you’re clearly doing lots of things wrong.

Meche gets point for being on. He was great, got ahead of the hitters and didn’t waste pitches. I don’t think he gave the Sox batters a chance to take too many pitches.

Sox batters have to work a little harder at the plate. They didn’t foul off enough pitches to work the count.

To be honest, I’m not sure I want to see them get off to a red-hot start. When they have in recent years, the collape has been painful.

Is that you, Larry?

So…. what was Theo supposed to do? Sign Eric Gagne? Trade half the farm system (Buchholz, Bowden, Lester) for… Chad Cordero? Pass.

Tavarez is as competent as any fifth starter in the AL. If he falters, you’ve got some good arms (Gabbard, Hansack) just a short drive away. Anyway, Lester will be back by the All-Star break.

That said, the Royals have improved, but they’ve got a ways to go before they can seriously contend. Due credit to Meche for a good game.

Last time Schill walked in a run: 8/7/05 vs MIN, although he was on in relief of Manny Delcarmen who loaded them up.

Last time Schill walked a batter after loading up the bases himself: 7/23/2000, pitching for AZ against PIT. (Part of a 110-pitch complete game 4-1 win.)

Per www.thebaseballcube.com. I love the internet.

I think it’s funny that one game can show that “the bullpen is so much better already this year,” yet it indicates nothing about the negative aspects that were displayed yesterday. Also, it’s not like the pen was untouchable. Over 5 innings, RPs gave up 2 runs on 4 hits. The one thing I loved to see: 0 BB.

In my eyes, game 1 doesn’t mean much. It is what it is. Schilling sucked. Lugo struck out the first three ABs of his Red Sox career (but that’s not all that concerning given his career numbers against Meche). Tek looked uncomfortable. And the Sox lost the game.

Three of these are facts and the other is more of an observation which I think most people would agree with.

So what do the facts say at this point?

1) Schilling is human.

(But he has been for years. We all knew he was human in 2005. He was better in 06, but not untouchable. Can he still be an ace in 07? Yes. Did he look like ace material yesterday? No.)

2) The Sox are not going to win 162 games this year.

What don’t the facts say?

1) Schilling has slipped into mediocrity and the Sox 07 hopes are going to crash and burn because of it.
2) Lugo is going to be another disaster at SS.
3) Lugo isn’t going to be another disaster at SS.
4) The Sox pen is tremendously better than in recent years.
5) The Sox pen is even worse than in recent years.

Nothing is really conclusive after game 1, including all positive and negative aspects of the day. The sample is too small to mean anything.