Memo to G.D. Morrill and other like-minded fans: The Padres won't give Alex Rodriguez even a sniff, and they shouldn't. The Rockies, Diamondbacks and Indians have proven this year that you don't need lofty player payrolls to field a team that plays great baseball. (All three have lower payrolls than San Diego.)

TAKE FIVE Union-Tribune columnist Nick Canepa looks into the future and gives us his take on the five stories we'll be talking about this coming week: 1. A weeping Joe Torre says: “Offering $5 million to an American League manager who has very little to do is an insult.” 2. Michael Vick, saying, “Why not? Everybody's doing it,” agrees to rat on O.J. Simpson. 3. College football pollsters get together and announce they no longer will pick aNo. 2. One may be the next to go. 4. Chinese scientists' Olympic torch model is rejected because of lead fumes. 5. David Beckham says: “I'll help out any way I can – as long as it doesn't involve playing.”

Should the Dodgers be the team to sign A-Rod to the ridiculous free-agent deal he is certain to get, so what? He is just one player and he can be pitched around, like Barry Bonds. Let L.A. sign him and then choke on his contract for years just like they did Kevin Brown's. Besides, what has Rodriguez's immense talent gotten the teams (Mariners, Rangers and Yankees) for which he has played? Exactly zero rings.

The Padres do have weaknesses to address this winter. Holding runners on base, throwing out base stealers and team speed were all glaring deficiencies this season. What the Padres really need is an Ichiro Suzuki or Jose Reyes-like pest at the top of the batting order (Brian Giles is not a leadoff hitter). Suzuki and Reyes drove the Padres bananas this year. It would be nice, for a change, if San Diego's team speed gave somebody else fits in 2008.

JOHN R. MATSON, Chula Vista

A-ROD II: Although it is nice to dream about A-Rod in the Padres lineup, it is just not something that will happen. I can see Kevin Towers making better use of that $25 million a season over the next 10 years.

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Towers was hamstrung when he had to pay $8 million or $9 million for Phil Nevin and Ryan Klesko. The only way this signing makes sense is if it is backloaded. Brian Giles and Greg Maddux will not be on the books in 2009. Then again, that year is when Jake Peavy hits the jackpot.

At least, with the farm producing talent, the team will have the payroll flexibility to get creative. And for all those morons that have the idea of giving A-Rod ownership in the team, it is illegal for any player to have ownership in a team. Keep dreaming, Padres fans.

HECTOR GASTELUM, Downtown

FIX THE REAL PROBLEMS: As the Colorado Rockies wait for their first visit to the World Series to begin, I'm tired of hearing about how sad it is that Trevor Hoffman blew the playoff game between the Padres and the Rockies.

In my opinion, the Padres failed to reach the playoffs not because of that one loss, but because of two seasonlong problems. They couldn't stop other teams from stealing bases, and they didn't drive in enough runs themselves.

The Padres gave up 189 stolen bases, which was 53 more than the second-worst total in the majors – 136 by the Yankees! The Padres threw out only 20 of the 209 men who attempted to steal. The second-worst total was 46 by the Indians.

I have to believe that if the Padres had thrown out even five or 10 more base-stealers, they would have won at least one more game and then there wouldn't have been a playoff in Colorado.

As for runs scored, only four teams in the major leagues scored fewer runs than the Padres. Again, I have to believe that if they had scored even five or 10 more runs, they would have won at least one more game.

Trevor didn't cost the Padres their chance to go to the playoffs. The blame for that goes solely to the powers in charge of the team who never addressed all the stolen bases or lack of runs scored.

Let's hope something is done to improve the Padres in those areas for 2008. If nothing changes for the better, I expect the Padres to also watch next year's playoffs and World Series at home on their big-screen TVs.

DAVID MATT GREEN, Allied Gardens

JOE AND GEORGE: Poor, pitiful Joe Torre. I feel sorry for the little fellow. The Yankees had the gall to “insult” him with a pathetic $5 million, 1-year contract offer (with incentives). How's a guy gonna make it on that kind of scratch? The new, gutless George Steinbrenner couldn't pull the trigger and fire “Joltin” Joe after he miserably underachieved with that incredible roster of talent.

Georgy Porgy needs to conduct a modified fire sale and break up the Yankees because his way is currently the wrong way to build a champion. The Rockies and Diamondbacks have paved the path for the new way to playoff glory. And no, do not include the Padres in that mix. You see, while the Rockies and Diamondbacks have payrolls similar to the Padres, these two organizations actually build the correct way through the draft by shelling out the cash for quality draft choices, whereas John Moores is a cheapskate bum who forces Kevin Towers to draft losers such as Matt Bush.

So look for a scaled-down Yankees team next year without crybaby Joe Torre at the helm and minus some big-name players, and look for the Rockies and Diamondbacks to dominate the NL West for the next few years as the Padres muddle about in the middle with no big-time free agents in the fold.

PAUL CONRAD, Clairemont

LOYAL TO AZTECS: I have been an ardent SDSU fan since 1963, and I suffer along with the team during the difficult times. My family of three and occasionally just myself attend every home game and stay until the end, no matter the score or weather. I can't imagine a fall season without Aztecs games. I try to support the Aztec Athletic Foundation when I can and I dearly hope SDSU will not drop the Division I program.

When a program suffers as we are suffering, one looks for signs of character. The 2007 team demonstrated an ample amount in the Cincinnati game. Hopelessly behind with the final minutes ticking down, members of the team were standing along the sidelines, intently following the action, offensively and defensively.

It produced a lump in my throat. No hang-dog scores of players sitting dejected and beaten on the benches. What a great message for the sparse but loyal fans – and any potential recruits for the program.

I am a Pop Warner coach and perhaps a future high school coach. If I ever rise to a head coach position, I'll expect and demand that my players behave with such character. I rarely see a defeated team solidly united along the sidelines, intent on the action, as I observed the Aztecs in the final minutes of the Cincinnati game.

Well done, all of you. Better days are ahead!

DAVID LABADIE, Spring Valley