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Didn't we start this column last week by celebrating Josh Hamilton's comeback from a strained rib-cage muscle? He came back all right, playing just as hard, including running into walls. Now the center fielder is sitting out Tuesday with another crash-into-the-wall-induced injury; this time it's a strained right groin. No word yet as to how long the team expects him to be sidelined, although this does not appear to be as big a deal as the previous injury which forced him onto the DL. In fact, on the Rangers' official Web site, Hamilton indicated that he felt better Tuesday and hoped he could return to the lineup Wednesday. That might be a little ambitious, but it does sound as though he could return this week.

Last week we also celebrated the return of Angels ace John Lackey. Well, he only lasted two pitches in his first start Saturday. When I first heard that news I wondered what devastating injury could have befallen him so quickly in his season debut. I later found out he had been ejected after hitting a batter (after first throwing behind him) and was relieved, as Lackey fantasy owners everywhere must have been, that his early exit was not injury-related. Incidentally, he did return to pitch Monday and notched his first victory of the season. He did not pitch deep into the game, but assuming his elbow continues to feel good, it will just be a matter of increasing his endurance.

The Angels also saw the return of Ervin Santana last week who, despite being a bit rusty, survived his first outing. Santana's ability to deliver his breaking pitches, most noticeably his slider, inspired confidence that his elbow is feeling good. When Kelvim Escobar rejoins the team -- which appears to be targeted for early June if all goes well in his rehab starts -- the Angels can really feel as if they're overcoming the big injury hurdle.

And there is more good news about an ace returning. Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter is expected to return today after missing time with an oblique strain. Carpenter's oblique was not injured, as one might expect, during pitching, but rather during batting. We see pitchers with oblique injuries and hitters with oblique injuries, but a pitcher succumbing to an oblique injury while hitting is rare. Carpenter's season had been off to an impressive start after he missed nearly two full years with various throwing-arm issues including Tommy John ligament reconstruction and nerve decompression surgery. Since this most recent injury was not to his throwing arm and he was able to maintain his physical conditioning, the hope is that he will be able to pick up his performance right where he left off. Fantasy owners who remained faithful to Carpenter over the past six weeks should be well-rewarded.

Here are the other walking wounded we're talking about in the world of baseball this week …

Carlos Delgado, 1B, Mets: Delgado tried to play through the hip injury that has been bothering him since April. But after sitting out 10 straight days and trying all forms of conservative treatment -- a cortisone injection, therapeutic mobilization to the hip (which the New York Post accurately described as his leg being "pulled to create space in the hip") and rest -- all to no avail, the surgical option became imminent.

The Post reported that Delgado underwent surgery Tuesday to address a mechanical impingement, a labral tear and a bone spur. The Mets say they expect to have him back within about 10 weeks, a timetable similar to that given to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez this preseason and Royals third baseman Alex Gordon in April.

However, although his timetable is similar to those two, there are a couple of differences in Delgado's situation. Beyond the fact that his name is not Alex, his fielding demands are somewhat different, since he plays first base, not third. Additionally, Delgado's injury -- unlike those of Rodriguez and Gordon -- is to his lead hip when he swings the bat since he bats left-handed. How does that impact his return? It doesn't necessarily alter the time frame, but it does shift some of the emphasis of his rehab.

It is also worth noting that despite the fact this injury is dated to late April when Delgado hurt his hip sliding into third, this hip has bothered him in the past. Last year Delgado missed time with "impingement" in the same hip. Although a longer-term injury can sometimes translate into more damage within the joint, based on the post-surgical rehab time frame issued by the Mets, this does not appear to be the case. In fact, one could potentially make the case that if indeed Delgado's hip has been a limiting factor, even intermittently, over the past two years, he might be able to improve his overall performance once he's fully recovered.