Well, it didn’t go badly, except of course for the loss. Verlander was strong early, and didn’t give up a hit for a while, but the bats seemed cold, and it may be a pretty tough first couple weeks of the season if they don’t come around.

Verlander was pretty good through four innings and then got through the fifth. He gave up two in the sixth, and maybe should have come out right there. Unfortunately, he gave up two baserunners in the seventh and Grilli couldn’t keep them from scoring.

Carlos Guillen hit a home run in the 8th to tie the game at four and, to be honest, I thought the Tigers would win the game, but they couldn’t push another run across and the Royals scored a run in the 11th off Denny Bautista.

Don’t fault Bautista, though, because I think he is going to be really good, and if the Tigers can get Joel Zumaya back next year to start closing games, I would look for Bautista to fill the old Zumaya role when Todd Jones (finally) goes off into the sunset.

0-1 on the year. Nothing to worry about, it’s a long season. It’s just strange not being over .500 for the first time in a while…