Can George Brett Hit .500?

As it turned out, Brett was introduced at the Royals' home opener, April 9, not to boos, but to a modest ovation. Did that mean that Brett had controlled the damage? "There weren't enough people there to tell," he says, laughing. "It was too cold." More seriously, Brett adds, "I live in Kansas City and I've spent the best years of my life here. I don't want to see those nine years of fun disappear."

The Royals seem confident that Brett is winning his fans back. The competitive fires were stoked this winter," Schuerholz says. "He walked out of our meeting, and he was the George Brett of old. Animated. Excited."

Full reconciliation with the fans will probably take some time, but the fury of Brett's bat in April suggests that he will do whatever is necessary to disperse any anger that may remain. In fact, as he proved with last week's comic somersault out of the batter's box, he'll even bend over backward.