Wright not returning this season a possibility

PHOENIX -- Though the Mets still hope David Wright can return to active duty before the end of August, manager Terry Collins admitted Friday that there's a chance Wright will not play again this season.

"No question," Collins said when asked if Wright might not return from a strained right hamstring. "There's nothing etched in stone. We're hoping certainly that it's four weeks. If it's five, it's five. If it's six, it's six. If he gets back, tremendous. That means the healing process and all the rehab stuff will work. But there is absolutely no timetable at all."

Wright is currently taking part in a daily physical therapy regimen at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Until he is ready to begin baseball activities -- and there is no timetable on that, either -- he will remain in New York.

At some point, Wright's rehab will progress to Port St. Lucie, Fla., where he will begin daily running, fielding and hitting drills. Only then will the Mets have a more concrete idea of when -- or if -- he might be able to return this season.

In the interim, Collins said, he will keep Wright out of his thoughts as much as possible. Clearly missing Wright's team-leading .309 batting average and .904 OPS, the Mets have averaged three runs per game since their captain landed on the disabled list.

"You can't worry about a month from now," Collins said. "All I've got to worry about is making sure those guys in there are ready to play, and that they play up to their capabilities, and we get them ready for tomorrow. And when David calls me and says, 'I'm ready to go,' [he] will be in the lineup. Book it."