GAGNE DONE FOR THE SEASON DODGERS CLOSER WILL UNDERGO SECOND TOMMY JOHN SURGERY IN NINE YEARS.

Byline: Tony Jackson Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO - Dodgers closer Eric Gagne will undergo the second Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery of his career Friday in Los Angeles, forcing him to miss the rest of this season and at least the first half of 2006.

A second, more revealing MRI on Gagne's ailing right elbow Tuesday, this one involving an injection of gadolinium dye, showed a partially torn ligament.

Although club officials are hoping Gagne can return by next year's All-Star break, the pitcher himself is more ambitious.

``I should be back by May,'' Gagne said. ``I was back in 11 months the first time.''

Catcher Paul Bako also will miss the rest of the season after reconstructive surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, also slated for Friday.

Gagne's loss is the toughest blow yet to a Dodgers team that has been plagued all season by injuries and bad luck.

``Just from a presence standpoint, Eric means so much to this club,'' Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta said.

Gagne originally underwent Tommy John surgery as a minor-leaguer in 1997, then slowly morphed during the years that followed from a struggling starter to one of the most dominant closers in the game, converting 84 consecutive save opportunities in 2002-2004.

What isn't commonly known is that Tommy John surgeries typically have a shelf life of between six and eight years. By that estimate, Gagne already was pitching on borrowed time even before he first felt his current elbow discomfort the last day of spring training.

``I talked to Dr. (Frank) Jobe and Dr. (Ralph) Gambardella about it,'' Gagne said. ``A lot depends on how you pitch with it, what kind of role you're in and how many innings you pitch. I have had no problems at all until now, no stiffness or anything.''

Gagne's procedure isn't believed to be career-threatening.

``This isn't a whole lot different from his first one,'' DePodesta said. ``There still is a high rate of success. They don't think this is a complicated procedure. It's pretty straightforward. ... Realistically, we can probably hope for the All-Star break next year.''

DePodesta and Tracy said they are comfortable with rookie Yhency Brazoban filling in for Gagne in the closer role, in which he has converted 11 of 13 save opportunities (he also blew one as a setup man). DePodesta did say that as the July 31 trading deadline approaches, he might look for a reliever to replace Brazoban in the setup role.

The Dodgers signed Gagne last winter to a two-year, $19 million contract extension through 2006. For that investment, they will get 14 appearances and eight saves in 2005 plus whatever Gagne can give them if or when he returns in 2006, after which he will be eligible for free agency.

The Dodgers didn't get much out of Bako, either, after signing him as a free agent to a one-year, $650,000 contract. He batted .250 in just 13 games before going down last month with what at the time was termed a ``mild sprain.'' Apparently, it wasn't so mild.

DePodesta said he is fine with the club's current catching tandem of starter Jason Phillips and backup Mike Rose. Top catching prospect Dioner Navarro is at Triple-A Las Vegas, but club officials want him to play every day.

``At this point, I'm certainly very comfortable with (Rose as the backup),'' DePodesta said.

DePodesta said he has no need to pursue a catcher at the trading deadline.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(color) Dodgers closer Eric Gagne first underwent Tommy John surgery in 1997.

Box:

(1) WALKING WOUNDED

(2) NL ROUNDUP: SMOLTZ BREAKS SHUTOUT DROUGHT