The figurative second half of the season has not stared well for the Tigers. First, they actually lost to the Royals, who are far and away all alone in last place. But that was only one day. Now they get word that closer Troy Percival might be gone for a while and may even retire.

Percival’s durability was a concern when we was signed. But now he’s got a reddened bulge near his pitching elbow and he’s mentioning that he was only going to play this year and next anyway, so he may just pack it in. This is not a good sign for a team that is building toward something, whether it’s next year or the year after.

But this year just got a bit tougher. For a team that thought it had a solid bullpen plan, the Tigers have since traded the guy who could have stepped up for the injured guy, thus losing two-thirds of their late inning relief plan.

Gene Guidi hinted at the tack the second half might take, what with the trading deadline creeping up in a couple weeks. But he didn’t even include Percival and the bullpen in his analysis.

Thankfully, with a few players in new roles - most notably Fernando Rodney as the new bridge between starters and new closer, the flame-throwing Kyle Farnsworth - the Tigers beat the Royals last night.

Perhaps its for the best that the young guys get to do it, since they are the ones who would have to pick up the pace in future pennant chases anyway. None of the other blogs seem overly concerned, so maybe I’m just way too fixated on the bullpen.

But even Iffy is wondering whether his beloved Tabbies are closer to the bottom than that top they’re striving for.

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