Terry Collins doesn't let his uncertain future bother him

Terry Collins often has mused about the future of the Mets and how bright he thinks it will be with the team's young starters. With his contract set to expire after this season, the 66-year-old manager was asked Thursday if he thinks he'll be around to see that future.

"That's a good question. I don't have an answer for it," he said.

Does he expect the front office to talk about an extension in-season? "I have no idea," he said. "I'm telling you, I don't think about it. I think about playing golf in November. That's the only thing on my mind right now."

When the extension question was put to the Mets' hierarchy, a team spokesman said, "We'll address it at the proper time."

Duda still ailing

Lucas Duda was not in the starting lineup against the Rockies for the third straight game because of back pain and Collins said "There's a concern. It's DEFCON 5." He meant a low level of concern, a spokesman said.

Collins was asked if Duda, who leads the team with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs, could be headed to the disabled list. "Today I would have to say probably not. We hope with the medicine [he was given Wednesday] he's much better tomorrow. But I just talked to him a little bit ago. I said, 'Listen, today we'll give you another day. I need you for this weekend.' If tomorrow it's not much better, we got to start thinking how we are going to make sure we stay healthy as a whole team, 'cause to play [undermanned] is sort of tough to do it when you're fighting for the pennant."

Duda said he will wait and see how he is Friday and "go from there."

Wright unlikely to DH

Collins said fans should not expect David Wright to be the designated hitter when the Mets begin a two-game series against the Orioles in Baltimore on Tuesday.

Wright is on a rehabilitation assignment in Florida as he works his way back to the Mets. He was sidelined in April with a hamstring injury that was followed with a diagnosis of spinal stenosis.

"It would be nice," Collins said. "It's not the risk. It's that is he ready? He's feeling good. I'm not really worried about the back. I'm worried about whether or not he's ready. When he comes here, he's got to be ready to contribute. It's about at-bats. He's got to have his timing down.

"I talked to him, one of the things we're seeing right now -- you find out from anybody who's been out of the game for a long time -- he's stiff. There's no injuries, but you got to get in playing shape."