Wow!

The Detroit Tigers’ ill-fated start produced a “wow” during the team’s season-opening six-game homestand, but not the type of wow many envisioned as everyone counted down to Opening Day.

Who would have thunk it?

I, like everyone else, waited anxiously with bated breath for the 2008 season to begin.

Was this the best Tigers’ batting lineup ever? Would this be the magical year the Tigers get back to the World Series and avenge that heart- wrenching loss to St. Louis in 2006?

The Tigers’ 0-7 start to the 2008 campaign, which was at 2-10 following the series in Chicago, could not have caught me more off guard.

Yes, I knew there were some serious concerns with the pitching staff coming into this season, but starting out like this . . . no way.

Sure, set-up men Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney, who were instrumental in the Bengals’ run at baseball glory in 2006, are injured. Looking back, they were heart of the bullpen.

So, with Zumaya out till midseason following shoulder surgery and Rodney still nursing shoulder tendonitis, I knew the relief pitching would be a problem.

I figured with the Tigers’ vaunted hitting lineup, they could score enough runs to squeeze out a few rough outings from the bullpen.

But who would have ever dreamed that almost all the hitters would be slumping at the same time.

Second baseman Placido Polanco was hitting only .087 after the first week. Add in the fact, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Pudge Rodriguez, Jacque Jones and Marcus Thames are all batting under .200. It’s plain to see a total breakdown has caused the Tigers to fall into a 2-10 hole.

Concerning the Tigers weak hitting and inability to produce a clutch hit to save their purring hearts, manager Jim Leyland said the hitting thus far just flat out stinks.

The Tigers went on the road to Boston and Chicago following their horrible homestand and showed no signs of coming out of their slump. Following the road series in Chicago, the Tigers had the worst record in Major League Baseball. And neither the hitters or pitchers were performing well. Heck, Detroit gave up two grand slams in Sunday’s game against the White Sox.

Maybe it’s desperate time and the Tigers need to make another blockbuster deal to get some pitching help. But who is out there on the block this early in the season?

Maybe center fielder Curtis Granderson’s presence at the top of the lineup is missed more than anyone thought (he’s still out with a broken bone in his hand). After all, he is the catalyst to getting runs and starting rallies with his feet, home run power or just spraying the ball all over the field.

If the Tigers buck history and make a gallant comeback and challenge for an American League playoff spot – notice I did not mention the World Series – their horrible start can be used as a rallying point.

No matter if the Tigers get back into contention or not, I still commend Tigers owner Mike Ilitch for stepping out on faith and spending a lot of his money on the Tigers for us – the people of Metro Detroit.

Sure, it would be a little embarrassing, like that whipping Chicago put on us on national television recently, but I like an owner that is being proactive and trying to make moves that he and almost every baseball prognosticator thought would put the Tigers in contention for a World Series title.

The Tigers have the second highest payroll in Major League Baseball at $138.7 million (the Yankees have the highest at $209.1 million). It is all of Metro Detroit’s wish that the players start to earn their lofty salaries. But if they don’t, you have to admire Ilitch and President Dave Dombrowski for making the effort to bring a title to Detroit.

All I can say about the Tiger’s start is WOW, and I don’t mean that as a complementary interjection!

Leland Stein can be heard on WGPR radio (107.5) every Sunday from 11 p.m. to midnight. He can be reached at lelstein3@aol.com.