MLB

Bay realizes he could be headed to Mets bench

MILWAUKEE — If Jason Bay presses his ear to the lineup card, he can hear a clock ticking.

The underachieving Mets left fielder has been around long enough to realize every manager has a breaking point. Bay knows he needs to start hitting — or prepare for the possibility he will relinquish his everyday spot in the Mets’ lineup.

“That’s the reality of the situation we’re in,” Bay told The Post. “I’m not going to sit here and tell you that is not an option. I’m pretty aware of what’s going on.”

BOX SCORE

Bay finished 0-for-3 in the Mets’ 7-6 loss to the Brewers, extending his hitless streak to 23 at-bats. He is batting .207 with two homers and 10 RBIs.

The fact the Mets don’t have a strong alternative in left field has made it easier for manager Terry Collins to keep Bay in the lineup. But at some point in the near future, Collins could decide he’s better off taking his chances with rookie Jason Pridie, who has been more productive than Bay.

Collins implied yesterday that the old Terry Collins — who wore emotions on his sleeve while managing the Astros and the Angels in the 1990s — might have benched Bay already.

“One of the personality changes I think I’ve made is to have some patience,” Collins said. “I’m trying to relay that to Jason, certainly — don’t press, you don’t have to press the issue. It’s going to be there, it’s going to come.”

But Bay has little choice but to worry about the outcome of his at-bats.

“It’s a results business, and this is a place where team-wise you need to win and you need to perform,” Bay said. “Regardless of who you are, you get enough chances and it’s like ‘OK, let’s go [in a different direction].’ That’s out of my control.”

Collins said he’s not worried about the fact Francisco Rodriguez has lost significant weight since having two teeth removed last week. The Post reported yesterday that Rodriguez, struggling with solid food, has dropped 15 pounds. Rodriguez was unaware of the weight loss until stepping on a scale before Tuesday’s game, after he was asked by The Post about the possibility he had shed pounds.

“Now that he can chew, I think you will see him put some weight back on,” Collins said. “If we can put some weight back on him, we will. Just to get him some energy back I think is going to be the key, and that will come with the fact he can maintain a more steady diet.”