Last place.

Torre is probably a good manager for self-motivated players or, say, a team of veterans who don't want to be forced to go over rundowns for the 10 millionth time. I would concede that the players could conceivably rebel and sabotage the season if they really hate their manager.

But if the idea is that Grady Little is more laid-back than Torre, then it's simply not possible.

Ever see those animation stills for collectors? You can't take your eyes away because your brain sort of expects it to move. But it never moves. It's potential energy that never actually translates into kinetic energy.

That's Torre in the dugout.

You can take one picture of Torre wearing his home uniform and one picture of Torre wearing his away uniform. Then you can fire the cameraman and use that same shot for the entire season:

"Of course, it's a fine line between first and fourth in the National League West, such a fine line that the very presence of Torre in a Dodgers uniform could be enough to make the difference. The difference, to this point, is most noticeable before the Dodgers take the field at Petco Park tonight for the start of a three-game series.

'Everything's in check here, under control,' said pinch-hitting specialist Mark Sweeney, a North County resident who's done three stints with the Padres. 'The respect, the credibility, all that good stuff that comes with (Torre), is pretty impressive. He's an elite manager who ultimately makes people better and makes them understand what it takes, day in and day out, to win.

'I think it's a perfect match, because what we've had here is a lot of West Coast feeling. I don't know if it's the weather or whatever, but there's always that laid-back sense that everything's OK. What I think he's brought is that mentality that you play the game the right way, no matter where you are or what your uniform says.' "

I'm warning you, pinch-hitting specialist Mark Sweeney, a North-County resident who's done three stints with the Padres: You are going to be baffled when your manager ignores the pitcher's lefty/righty splits and puts you out there because you have a "presence."