Mets’ Alou sidelined

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 today.

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.

Now, six of New York’s eight regulars are sidelined, plus one member of the rotation – and it’s still early in spring training.

Good news for Murcer

A brain biopsy on New York Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer showed no sign that a tumor had reoccurred.

An MRI exam last week showed an area of concern, which prompted the biopsy Monday at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

“We received great news this morning,” Murcer said. “The biopsy revealed scar tissue. It showed no signs of cancer. It’s what we had hoped for.”

Clearing the bases

The Boston Red Sox’s reluctance to give Bartolo Colon rave reviews keeps getting tougher. The 2005 A.L. Cy Young Award winner pitched his second impressive bullpen session and is on schedule to make his first start on March 15 since signing a minor league contract on Feb. 25. … Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo was scratched from his scheduled outing against the New York Mets because of irritation in the back of the elbow where bone chips were removed last summer. … Democratic congressman Rep. Anthony Weiner (New York) asked the FBI to drop its investigation of Roger Clemens because the pitching great had suffered enough from the probe into steroid use.