Focus on positive

PEORIA, Ariz. – Arizona manager Bob Melvin, wearing his trademark optimism along with a spiffy new Diamondbacks cap, chose a characteristically shiny way Saturday to reflect on his two seasons in Seattle.

“Once you get fired, all of a sudden you’re an experienced manager and you have some experience when you go interview,” he said before facing his old team. Melvin was fired after the Mariners finished 63-99 – the club’s worst record in 21 years. Melvin, meanwhile, landed another managerial job back in Arizona, where he has lived for 12 years and served as bench coach under former Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly during the team’s run to the 2001 World Series title.

He’s taking over a team that lost 111 games last year. For better or worse, Melvin will draw on his experience from Seattle.

“You learn things in any job,” he said. “I hadn’t been a manager before. There were a lot of things I didn’t know.”

Sele delivers strong outing

Aaron Sele did his part to raise the level of competition for a spot in Seattle’s rotation.

Sele threw one-hit ball for five innings, facing two batters over the minimum. Arizona’s Sergio Santos hit a three-run home run after Sele left, leading the Diamondbacks to a 7-5 over the Mariners.

Hasegawa looks to regain old form

This is Shigetoshi Hasegawa’s year to redeem himself.

Just about every other Seattle player can say that, too, after a 99-loss, last-place season that defied anyone’s expectations.

For Hasegawa, it was personal.

His earned run average spiked, from 1.48 in 2003 to 5.16 in 2004, when he lost his usual command of the lower part of the strike zone.

“Last year I was thinking too much,” said Hasegawa, 36, who begins his ninth major league season. “I felt last year was the year to get there and coming off the year I had, I was sure we would be a World Series contender.”

Hasegawa promises not to get himself involved in such lofty goals this season.

So far at spring training, that approach has worked well. Hasegawa’s 5.40 ERA is far from impressive, but in his last three outings he has allowed just three hits and one earned run.

Notes

Ichiro Suzuki was 1 for 3 Saturday and has hit safely in all 11 of his Cactus League games. … Richie Sexson, injured last year for most of his only season with Arizona, received a mix of cheers and boos during his first at-bat. He singled.