Lugo will stand trial on charges of assault

OAKLAND, Calif. - Shortstop Julio Lugo is scheduled to spend the All-Star break on trial in a Houston courtroom.

Lugo faces a misdemeanor charge of assault/family violence stemming from his April 30 arrest outside Minute Maid Park. Police say he punched his wife, Mabel, in the mouth and banged her head against a car window. Lugo spent the night in jail and was released on $50,000 bond.

Jury selection takes take place Monday afternoon, with testimony beginning Tuesday and the trial expected to be concluded by Wednesday. A conviction, according to the Houston Chronicle, could result in as much as one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Julio and Mabel reportedly agreed to a divorce settlement last month, with Mabel receiving temporary custody of their child.

Lugo hollered at a reporter who asked about the case Thursday and declined comment.

The Astros dumped Lugo immediately after the arrest, and the Rays signed him for the rest of this season (with the Astros paying the bulk of his $1.575-million salary) and to a $1.75-million option for next season.

STARRY-EYED: AL All-Star manager Mike Scioscia confirmed what had seemed apparent, that Rocco Baldelli and Aubrey Huff didn't make the All-Star team because Detroit's Dmitri Young had to be there. Scioscia then selected closer Lance Carter to be the Rays representative.

"It was a very tough call," Scioscia said in a conference call. "Rocco and Aubrey received a tremendous amount of consideration, they were on and off a bunch of lists. But when it came down to it, operating in the structure of the selection process, when you looked at the Detroit roster we had one position player to pick and it was very obvious Dmitri Young was the only candidate from Detroit. It's an honor he deserves, and it didn't give us a chance to take the guys from Tampa."

That sounded like solid praise, though Scioscia made similar comments when asked about why Cleveland's Milton Bradley wasn't on the team and pitcher C.C. Sabathia was. Plus, Scioscia said "Bradley is high on the list if someone gets hurt."

Scioscia also said Carter shouldn't have to defend his selection to anyone.

"I think if you look at the Tampa Bay roster and look at the guy who's had an impact on a team, you have to look to the starters and the closer," Scioscia said. "Without a doubt Lance is doing a great job in the bullpen. ...

"He doesn't have to defend any question if he deserves to be there. Lance was picked. He deserves to be there. They have a lot of young talent in Tampa, and he's going to be part of a championship caliber team in the future. What Lance is doing shouldn't go unnoticed. I think he's definitely worthy of being an All-Star, and I don't think he should have to defend any selection we make."

TRY, TRY AGAIN: After Wednesday's game manager Lou Piniella criticized reliever Jesus Colome for relying too much on his fastball and said he would have to throw more breaking balls.

On Thursday the Rays brought him in to pitch the eighth and called all 20 of his pitches from the bench to make sure he followed orders. The practice may continue. "We might have to do that," Piniella said.

MISCELLANY: Seattle's upcoming three starters have 31 wins, the same number of victories as the Rays as a team. ... The Rays have lost 10 of their past 11 games at Oakland. ... Antonio Perez has hits in each of his eight starts. ... Carl Crawford is on a .364 roll, with 20 hits in his past 54 at-bats. ... Lefty Todd Belitz, a 1997 draft pick traded away in July 2000, is pitching for Triple-A Durham.