FIRING AXE IS ABOUT TO FALL UPON SEVERAL MANAGERS

Firing time is rapidly approaching for teams that want to salvage something out of this season, and the two managers under the most heat are Atlanta's Russ Nixon and Boston's Joe Morgan.

That excludes Pete Rose, of course, who is in jeopardy for other reasons than his managerial prowess.In Atlanta, the front-office is starting to realize that Nixon's 42-79 record for part of last season was a true indicator of his abilities.

Atlanta General Manager Bobby Cox traveled with the club on its recent West Coast trip, fueling speculation that the ax was about to fall. After the Braves lost their sixth straight Wednesday (for their 10th defeat in 12 games), Nixon referred to his players as "whipped dogs." Then he added, "I take the blame."

Players don't like to be called dogs, Russ. And if you want the blame, there's always someone willing to give it to you.

The rumor is that Hal Lanier will replace Nixon, but don't expect any sudden pennant runs. Lanier's a good manager, but the Braves are still a half-dozen players short of being average.

In Boston, meanwhile, last year's miracle worker, Joe Morgan, is catching it from all sides. Critics call him a nice guy who is in over his head as manager, and whose record is unimpressive once you discount the team's 21-game winning streak that was accomplished in the elation over John McNamara's firing.

The Red Sox already signed Morgan to a contract for next season, but don't be surprised if that turns out to be a weak attempt to send the players a message. If the Sox don't start playing up to their potential soon, Morgan will be gone.

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BULLY BRUCE: San Diego's Bruce Hurst is 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA against the Braves and Phillies, the NL's two worst teams, and the Dodgers, the NL's worst-hitting team. But he's 2-5 with a 3.82 ERA against the rest of the league.

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WHY WALLY?: This week's question we'd like to have someone answer is why the Angels insist on letting Wally Joyner bat cleanup even though he has only one home run in 342 at-bats since last September and is tied for fifth on the team in RBI. Even during a recent 72 at-bat hot streak, during which he hit .403, Wally World drove in only nine runs. Over the course of a season, that pace would probably put him in the 70-RBI range, far too low for a cleanup hitter.

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