Sele Focuses on Events He Can Control

Veteran Aaron Sele said he was not worried Wednesday by pitching coach Bud Black’s assertion that John Lackey was “most likely” the fourth starter in the Angel rotation, leaving Sele and Ramon Ortiz to battle for the remaining spot.

“I think we all knew Lackey would be one of the starters,” Sele said after his best spring performance, a four-inning relief outing during the Angels’ 5-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

“There’s no pressure on me. I’m just pitching. I’ve got to go out and get ready for a season. I’ve got to make my pitches, stretch myself out and prepare that way. That’s all I can really worry about.”

Sele, an 11-year veteran who won at least 15 games a season from 1998 to 2001 before completing two injury-plagued seasons with the Angels, could be released or traded if the Angels decided he was not the best fit for their rotation. He also could be moved to the bullpen, a proposition that seems vexing to the longtime starter.

“I’ve pitched 11 years as a starter and made one relief appearance,” said Sele, 33, who will make $8.5 million this season in the final year of a three-year, $24-million contract. “You have a routine down. I can’t imagine it would be easy to make that adjustment.

“It’s not as easy as everyone thinks it is -- ‘Aw, you just go to the bullpen and warm up.’ Even in a spring training game like today, I wasn’t as comfortable with being as loose or as warm as I felt like I should be.”

The right-hander, who gave up two runs and three hits Wednesday after center fielder Jeff DaVanon misplayed a fly ball he lost in the sun, has said he was not concerned about being released despite recent precedent. The Angels cut ties with ineffective veteran Kevin Appier last season even though they had to write the biggest severance check in major league history, $15.67 million.

“I’ve done this long enough,” Sele said. “There’s things I’ve got to work on, and that’s really the only thing I can control.”

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Jarrod Washburn gave up one hit and faced the minimum number of batters in four innings against the Rockies. The left-hander said last season’s pitching troubles stemming from a spring shoulder injury could actually make him better in 2004.

“My fastball wasn’t as good last year and I was forced to use my other pitches and change speeds a little more,” Washburn said. “Because of that, my changeup got better, my slider got better. This year, I’ll have my fastball that I had in the past and my other pitches have taken steps forward.”

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The Angels this off-season acquired two stars in Vladimir Guerrero and Bartolo Colon and two more front-line players in Jose Guillen and Kelvim Escobar, but none grace the cover of the 2004 media guide. Instead, there is simply the team logo, an A topped by a halo, set against a red background.

“We’re trying to emphasize as an organization our brand,” explained Tim Mead, vice president for communication. “It’s going to be all over the place. We want to promote the ‘A’ as much as possible.”

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Shortstop David Eckstein showed that he has fully recovered from the sore right hamstring and nerve problems that plagued him last season by ranging up the middle to rob Royce Clayton of a base hit in the fourth inning. “We’re not looking for Eck to make the spectacular play,” Manager Mike Scioscia said, “but that’s an indication [that he’s back]. We’re seeing the normal range, his first step -- everything you’re looking at for a shortstop is night and day from where he was last year.” ... Brendan Donnelly, recovering from a broken nose, has resumed throwing in the bullpen and is expected to pitch in a game as soon as today. ... Guillen missed his fourth consecutive game because of a strained right chest muscle but might return today.