PITTSBURGH -- The Arizona Diamondbacks, troubled by catcher Mike DiFelice's arrest at a critical stage of their season, demoted the light-hitting catcher to the minors.

	Mike DiFelice Catcher Arizona Diamondbacks Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R SB AVG 60 2 10 14 1 .188

DiFelice, arrested earlier this week on charges he assaulted two women in a Pittsburgh nightclub, was optioned Thursday night to Triple-A Tucson, but isn't expected to report for several days.

As a five-year veteran, DiFelice had to voluntarily accept the demotion, which followed considerable media and fan criticism in Phoenix for his nightclub scuffle with two women and a parking lot attendant.

"For me, it's been a long few days," DiFelice said in his first public comments since his arrest. "My first priority is to go home and be with my family, and be sure that's OK. I need to get this incident taken care of, to where it's going to be on the positive side for the DiFelice family. That's my main focus right now."

Diamondbacks spokesman Mike Swanson confirmed DiFelice accepted the assignment and would not be in uniform Friday in Philadelphia.

DiFelice was 1-for-21 -- an .048 average -- with 10 strikeouts since being traded with pitcher Albie Lopez from Tampa Bay to Arizona at the trading deadline late last month.

"This team is in contention for the playoffs, and I always try to be a team player," DiFelice said. "Right now, it's in the best interests of the team, and in case something happens, I'm down there and ready to go."

The Diamondbacks intended to send down DiFelice before Thursday night's 5-1 loss to the Pirates. Arizona recalled Triple-A catcher Rod Barajas, who briefly took over DiFelice's vacated stall in the clubhouse several hours before gametime.

But after learning he had 24 hours to accept the assignment, DiFelice returned to the clubhouse, reclaimed his locker and was in uniform for the Diamondbacks-Pirates game. He did not play.

DiFelice was suspended for two games earlier this week for fighting with Pirates first baseman Kevin Young on Aug. 14 in Bank One Ballpark, a suspension DiFelice immediately appealed. However, that appeal would not prevent him from being sent to the minors.

DiFelice's arrest came during a nine-game winning streak that propelled the Diamondbacks into the NL West lead with six weeks left in the season. They have lost two of three since the nightclub incident.

According to police reports, the 32-year-old DiFelice was arrested for assaulting the two women and punching a parking attendant, leading to his ejection from the Area 51 nightclub in Pittsburgh's Strip District early Tuesday.

DiFelice posted $6,000 bond and was released from the Allegheny County Jail later that day after being held on two counts of simple assault and one count each of indecent assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 31.

Police said a 28-year-old woman told them DiFelice grabbed her buttocks after she asked him to stop touching her arm. A 35-year-old woman who intervened said DiFelice later took out a cigarette lighter and burned her buttocks.

According to the police report, DiFelice then punched the 28-year-old woman in the face when she tried to help the 35-year-old woman. Club security tried to remove DiFelice, but he broke away and again confronted the woman he punched before he was removed from the club, police said.