Slow-starting Wright takes extra batting practice

ATLANTA -- David Wright, who abhors even the mildest of excuses, refuses to place too much stock in it. He's not even sure if it's the flu or something else. But Wright has been sick for at least the past few days, which Mets manager Terry Collins believes is at least partially to blame for his third baseman's slow start.

"I feel fine," Wright said. "It's more so about just missing some pitches that I should be hitting. There are quite a few guys that are feeling a little under the weather. It's more about just going out there and producing."

Over his first seven games, Wright did not come close to doing so with any consistency, batting .192 with a .574 OPS.

"You always want to see results," Wright said. "I'm off to a bit of a slow start, but we've been fortunate where we've had some guys step up and get some big hits, and help us out offensively while I get it going. It would be one thing if I wasn't seeing the ball well and having poor at-bats. I'm getting myself in positive counts. I'm getting myself in favorable counts. I'm just missing some pitches I should be hitting harder. I need a few of those to fall, then hopefully things start rolling from there."

To that end, Wright took extra batting practice before Wednesday's game, hoping to rediscover his timing at the plate. To guard against further wearing himself down, he has been gulping down as many fluids as possible.

"He's such a professional, he's out there every day, but it's tough to battle that when you just don't have that energy level up where you normally have it," Collins said. "He's doing what he's got to do to get himself back."

"It's like everybody," Wright said. "When you feel not so good, it stinks. But you've got to get past it, and hopefully I'm on the other side of it."