Moises Alou's groin strain turned out to be worse than previously thought:

Moises Alou will have surgery for a hernia and miss the start of the season, the most serious in a string of recent setbacks for the depleted New York Mets.

After reporting discomfort in his right groin, the oft-injured Alou left spring training camp Wednesday and was sent back to New York for tests. He is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday.

The 41-year-old left fielder is expected to resume baseball activities in four to six weeks, making it likely he'll be sidelined for at least most of April.

All four leftfielders on the Mets depth chart are now listed as injured. It's just a sea of red injury markers. Does anyone think the Mets are missing Lastings Milledge right now?

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