Someone smart once said that managers are hired only to be fired. Alas, that bright person didn't work on this column, but fortunately, "Winners and Losers" is intelligent enough to spot six skippers who have already run into rough times on the managerial seas, with one already cast adrift by a mutinous front office.

MANAGERS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. COMMENT

Johnny Oates ... ... Winner ... ... Since when has a .600 winning

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... percentage not been enough to

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... insure job security? What a

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... tough league!

Buck Showalter .. .. .. ... ... ... The Yanks are in first. Big deal.

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... George is still "The Boss," which

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... means Buck works from day-to-day.

Buck Rodgers ... ... Winner ... ... Fired Angels skipper smells like

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... a rose, because he left with more

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... class than organization showed him.

Jim Riggleman .. .. .. .. .. .. ... Padres are mired in last, but with

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... that roster, he could be favorite

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... for Triple A Manager of the Year.

Tom Treblehorn ... ... Loser ... ... Taking Cubs' job alone is

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ... evidence of loser status,

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ... but horrid pitching

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ... only seals his fate.

Tony LaRussa ... ... Loser ... ... A "genius" five years ago, but got

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... suddenly stupid when A's made dumb

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... trades and let good players go.