--RHPs Gil Meche, Zack Greinke and Kyle Davies, the Royals' three starting pitchers in the opening series against the White Sox, combined to allow one run in 20 innings. They allowed 13 hits, struck out 21 and walked five.
--The Royals scored just six runs in the series at Chicago, but they won two of three games. "You can't have six starting pitchers go out there and do it better for their teams than they did in this series," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. --OF David DeJesus became the Royals' 10th opening-day left fielder in as many years and the 19th in the past 20 years. Other left fielders on opening day in this decade were Mark Teahen, 2008; Ross Gload, 2007; Emil Brown, 2006; Terrence Long, 2005; Aaron Guiel, 2004; Raul Ibanez, 2003; Chuck Knoblauch, 2002; Mark Quinn, 2001; and Johnny Damon, 2000. Damon was also the left field starter in 1999, but before him there was plenty of turnover in the position. Other Royals opening-day LFs in the 1990s were Hal Morris, 1998; Bip Roberts, 1997; Tom Goodwin, 1996; Michael Tucker, 1995; Vince Coleman, 1994; Kevin McReynolds, 1993; Keith Miller, 1992; Gary Thurman, 1991; and Bo Jackson, 1990.
--There were 13 Royals on the opening-day roster who were not on the 2008 season-opening roster. They are 1B Mike Jacobs, SS Mike Aviles, CF Coco Crisp, Cs Miguel Olivo and Brayan Pena, INF/OF Willie Bloomquist, RHPs Kyle Farnsworth, Kyle Davies, Juan Cruz, Robinson Tejeda, Jamey Wright and Doug Waechter and LHP Horacio Ramirez.
--2B Mark Teahen made his fourth consecutive opening-day start -- all at different positions. He opened 2008 in left field, 2007 in right field and 2006 at third base. That is one shy of the record according to STATS Inc. Pete Rose, Tommy Harper, Al Oliver and Paul Molitor started at five positions in five straight seasons. The others starting at four positions in four consecutive season openers were Pete Ward, Jim Northrup, Steve Braun, Dale Murphy, Barry Bonnell, Tony Phillips, Joe Carter, Aubrey Huff and Carl Everett. Teahen is one of seven players on the list who did not start as the DH.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9.21 -- Spring training ERA of Zack Greinke, who is the Royals' No. 2 starter.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The (second base) competition between (Alberto) Callaspo, (Willie) Bloomquist and (Mark) Teahen, that's been interesting. I think they bring different things to the party and they all bring very valuable pieces to hopefully to having a very good year." -- Royals manager Trey Hillman.
