Strained oblique derails Delgado recovery

PHOENIX(AP) -- Carlos Delgado's rehabilitation after hip surgery
has been put on hold because of a strained right oblique muscle.

New York Mets assistant general manager John Ricco says the new
injury occured while the Mets first baseman was working out over
the weekend at the team's facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Delgado, who underwent surgery in May, returned to New York,
where the oblique strain was diagnosed by a team doctor.

Ricco said Wednesday that the strain was not believed to be
severe and the doctor told him it was possible that Delgado
could resume baseball activity "in a couple of weeks."

However, with only a month and a half left in the season, the
setback seriously raises the possibility that Delgado won't be
back until next spring.