Being careful so as not to plug the competition, we note that a certain weekly sports magazine that also introduced the sneaker phone to the American lexicon offered up 12 players aged 25 or younger as the new breed of stars in its preview issue. So, how are some of the baseball Generation Xers doing? Winners and Losers picks over half the crop this week.

PLAYERS ... ... ... ... ... ... COMMENT

Juan Gonzalez ... .. Winner ... Lower BA and fewer HR's

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... than Canseco, but fewer reckless driving

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... arrests and Madonna trysts, too.

Mike Mussina ... ... Winner ... 6-1 record and 2.48 ERA MIGHT

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... be good enough for Cito to get him

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... into this year's All-Star Game.

Gary Sheffield ... ... .. .. .. Bruised rotator cuff slows monster

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... year (.312, 12 HR's, 33 RBI) and

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... adjustment to right field.

Rod Beck ... ... Winner ... ... Grunge closer back from DL stint

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... with a vengence: 4 saves in first

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 games and 0.00 ERA to boot.

Travis Fryman ... ... Loser ... Second on Tigers in strikeouts, tied

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... for first in errors and .232 BA. Who

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... let this guy in the club?

Mike Piazza ... .. Winner .. .. Despite five errors, no sophomore

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... jinx for '93 NL Rookie of Year: .313 BA,

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 HRs, 28 RBI.