PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets won’t be allowed to royal flush their season down the toilet.
Manager Terry Collins told The Post yesterday his team rules, many of which will be unveiled today when he addresses his full squad for the first time, will include a limit on card playing in the clubhouse.
“It’s my understanding [card playing] was an issue last year,” Collins said. “They will be allowed to play cards, but there is going to be a cutoff time before the game.”
Under former manager Jerry Manuel, the Mets had no such limit, and some believed the card games got out of control last season — to the point that players’ work habits before the games were affected. The boiling point was reached in Pittsburgh last August, when former hitting coach Howard Johnson went ballistic during a pregame meeting and challenged the Mets to put as much energy into their game preparation as their card playing.
David Wright, who is an avid card player — he even is host of an annual charity poker tournament — said he’s fine with Collins drawing a line in the sand.
“It’s good to have a firm cutoff,” Wright said. “When I play, that’s part of my routine. I get to the park early and I like to, with lunch, play some cards. But for me, an hour before I get on the field [for batting practice] it has to be wrapped up.
“In the seven years I’ve been here . . . cards are a part of baseball, I think. But it’s very important also that it’s not a distraction and it doesn’t get in the way of someone’s preparation. The way to do it is have a firm cutoff where by a certain time you are focused 100 percent on getting ready for the game.”
Wright denied that card playing affected the Mets’ work habits last season.
“You are talking about a bunch of grown men, where this is what they do for a living,” Wright said. “If they are going to let a card game get in the way of what they do for a living or their profession, then you have bigger issues than that.
“But it’s important sometimes to have firm rules that people have to abide by,” Wright added. “Just so in case there is even a distraction or a choice of, ‘Stay here and finish this card game or getting my work in,’ there is no choice. Terry has already made it for you.”
What about Johnson’s tirade in Pittsburgh?
“Part of it was blowing off steam, because HoJo is pretty good at keeping it loose and having fun things to do while you are at the field,” Wright said. “So I think a lot of it was frustration. It becomes an issue if someone feels it’s getting in the way of preparation. If that was the case last year, it’s warranted.”
Collins said his initial team address should last 15-20 minutes. Wright isn’t sure what to expect.
“So far, it’s only been a couple of weeks, but it seems like [Collins] is very good at balancing having a good time and keeping things loose with rules and with being somewhat more strict,” Wright said. “There needs to be a balance.”