Personal Crisis for Guerrero

Tragedy struck the family of Vladimir Guerrero on Sunday afternoon when three of the Angel outfielder’s cousins were killed in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.

Details of the accident, which occurred while Guerrero’s three cousins were driving from Don Gregorio to San Cristobal, were still sketchy Monday. Guerrero informed the Angels that Fernando Guerrero, 26, Salvadore Carmona, 25, and Henry Guerrero, 23 -- all first cousins on his father’s side -- were killed.

They were believed to be living in New York and were traveling in the Dominican to visit relatives. Funeral services for the three were held there Monday afternoon.

Guerrero, the 2004 American League most valuable player, remained in Arizona on Monday and did not participate in the Angels’ workout. It was unclear how long he would be away from the team or if the accident would have an impact on Guerrero’s participation in the World Baseball Classic. He was to travel to Florida on Thursday to join the Dominican team’s WBC camp.

“Obviously, Vlad is shaken up -- any time something like this happens, everyone feels it,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’ll take his time, determine his next step. It’s tough because he is real excited about baseball right now ... but when something like this happens, the furthest thing from your mind is baseball. He needs to regroup.”

Angel broadcaster Jose Mota spoke with Guerrero on Sunday afternoon and said the slugger was distraught after learning of the accident.

“He could barely even talk,” Mota said. “These were all guys he was helping to get their lives going in the right direction.”

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Those 324 career saves, those clutch performances during the Angels’ 2002 World Series run, will be only part of Troy Percival’s legacy if the former Angel closer has, indeed, thrown his last pitch.

Percival cleaned out his locker and left the Detroit Tigers’ camp in Lakeland, Fla., Monday after complaining of severe elbow pain after throwing an inning in a simulated game Sunday. He will be remembered as much for being the consummate professional, a great teammate and a mentor to so many others.

“He’s one of the most powerful influences on my career and the way I approach the game,” Angel first baseman Darin Erstad said of Percival, who tore a muscle in his elbow last season. “You’re not going to find a better teammate.

“We always went to lunch together, came to the park together, and listening to him talk, if he blew a game the night before, you had no idea. He turned the page. His confidence never wavered. That attitude rubbed off on everyone.”

Especially the Angel relievers.

“He definitely taught us down there how to be in a major league bullpen -- how to pick each other up, what attitude to have, how to go about your business,” setup man Scot Shields said.

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Third baseman Dallas McPherson missed practice for a second consecutive day because of a rash, the cause of which the Angels were still trying to pinpoint. Scioscia said McPherson, who may be having an allergic reaction, might be able to play in today’s nine-inning intrasquad game.... The Angels announced that radio broadcasters Terry Smith and Rory Markas have signed five-year contract extensions through 2010. Both are entering their fifth seasons as Angel broadcasters.