ST. LOUIS -- Luis Gonzalez, the Arizona Diamondbacks' top power hitter, will miss the rest of the season and the playoffs because of a shoulder injury.

		Tues., Sept. 24 The Luis Gonzalez injury is damaging because the Diamondbacks no longer have the outfield depth they had in the past. Last year they had Danny Bautista as a fourth outfielder. In fact, he was the starting right fielder this season until he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in May. No matter who they replace Gonzalez with, there will be a dropoff. They may have to move Erubiel Durazo to the outfield against right-handed pitching and play Mark Grace at first base. His absence will hurt the most against left-handers because Gonzalez, as a left-handed hitter, could hit lefties as well as right-handers. In the outfield they would be left with Steve Finley, Quinton McCracken, David Dellucci and maybe Jose Guillen. And while McCracken is a switch-hitter, only Guillen is a right-handed hitter of the other three. Losing Gonzalez would also hurt their leadership. Gonzalez is a leader, the rock in the middle of their lineup. It's like the Cardinals losing Albert Pujols or the Braves losing Chipper Jones or Gary Sheffield.

The left fielder, hurt Monday night in a collision with shortstop Tony Womack, was examined Tuesday by team physician Dr. Michael Lee, who said Gonzalez might need surgery.

Gonzalez will have the surgery Monday and vows he will be ready to play by the start of spring training.

"This is not a career-ending injury,'' the 35-year-old All-Star outfielder said before Arizona played Colorado on Thursday night. "I will be back.''

''Unfortunately, our resiliency and our ability to overcome a crisis like this is going to be tested once again,'' manager Bob Brenly said.

Gonzalez, who had the winning hit in Game 7 of last year's World Series, was hurt when he dived for Tino Martinez's bloop double in the fourth inning of the Cardinals' 13-1 victory.

Womack went back for the ball and ran full speed into Gonzalez, driving his knee into his teammate's shoulder. Third baseman Alex Cintron jumped over both to avoid a three-way collision.

Gonzalez has a shoulder separation and torn ligaments.

''Though we have not finalized a timetable, he is a likely candidate for a reconstructive surgical procedure,'' Lee said. ''There is absolutely no reason to believe that he will not be at full strength and available for spring training.''

Second baseman Craig Counsell and pitcher Todd Stottlemyre also are sidelined for the rest of the season, and pitcher Brian Anderson broke his foot Sunday and probably will not pitch again this year.

Danny Bautista, out since May with a dislocated shoulder, is also unlikely to return by the playoffs.

Brenly said Erubiel Durazo will move from first base to right field, with Dave Dellucci moving to left and Mark Grace starting at first base. The lineup is aimed at getting more offensive punch, at the risk of using an untested outfielder.

''I think our guys will fill in well,'' Dellucci said. ''We'll do our best. It's time for us all to pick up the slack.''

Gonzalez, who returned to Phoenix on Tuesday, hit .288 this season and led the Diamondbacks with 28 homers and 103 RBI, topping 100 for the fourth straight season.

Last year, he had career highs of 57 homers, 142 RBI and 419 total bases. He won the World Series in the ninth inning of Game 7 with a bloop single off the New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera.

Durazo played briefly in the outfield in spring training. He took fly balls and grounders during batting practice Tuesday.

''First day, it feels a little weird, but I've got to get used to it,'' Durazo said.

	Luis Gonzalez Left Field Arizona Diamondbacks Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R SB AVG 147 28 103 90 9 .288

Brenly called Durazo's pregame workout ''adequate.''

''Rubi is not a natural outfielder,'' Brenly said. ''We told him not to worry about his defense, not to fret about his defense, to swing the bat.''

The Cardinals, likely to play Arizona in the first round of the playoffs next week, were saddened by the injury.

''I don't care who's side he's on, he's really an outstanding player,'' manager Tony La Russa said. ''I'd much rather play them with him. He's the kind of player who deserves to be competing.''

''He doesn't deserve that,'' Albert Pujols said. ''It's bad to see a good player and a good person like him go down like that. He's a big guy on their team.''