Terry gives struggling Jay

JAY BRUCE did not play Saturday night and his tight right calf is only partly to blame. This benching goes deeper than that.

Terry Collins went to the struggling outfielder, who was the Mets’ big prize at the trade deadline, and suggested what the manager called “a mental day” off because of how badly Bruce is faring at the plate.

Bruce came out of Wednesday’s game in St. Louis and did not play Thursday because of the calf and then struck out all four times he went to the plate Friday night, hearing a smattering of boos toward the end even though the Mets had a big lead. His calf “acted up during the game” Friday, Collins said, "but more than that it’s just a mental day.

“He wanted to hit early and get some swings, try to figure out a couple of things, so we took him out. He got some extra batting practice and hopefully we can get him going, along with Grandy (Curtis Granderson).”

Collins believes Bruce, who the Mets acquired from Cincinnati for prospects Dilson Herrera and Max Wotell, is putting too much pressure on himself in trying to drive the Mets’ offense.

“Yeah. I do,” Collins said. “I think it’s human nature. I don’t know of one player who ever has been traded who doesn’t want