It is just a feeling you get watching certain athletes. You felt it when Michael Jordan had the ball late in a game or when Joe Montana took over with two minutes remaining.

Or when … David Wright is up with a chance to put the Mets ahead in the late innings.

Of course, Wright has not done nearly enough yet to really be placed in Jordan’s or Montana’s league, but answer this:

When Wright walked to the plate in the seventh with two men on and the game deadlocked at three, did you just know he would come through?

Wright nailed a double down the left field line to give the first-place Mets the lead in what turned into a 7-3 victory over the Padres.

“That is old hat now,” Willie Randolph said of Wright’s clutch hit.

When Wright talks about his approach, he parrots what most of the great ones say in those situations. The key is not thinking too much and not freaking out.

“You can’t be scared in that situation,” said Wright, who had two doubles and two stolen bases yesterday. “You have to want to be there. You have to want to have that bat in your hands at that time.” Wright improved his National League MVP candidacy by bumping his yearly numbers to .314 with 22 homers, 86 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. If you watch the games, Wright’s numbers appear bigger than another third baseman who wears an “NY” on his hat.

“David’s been clutch all year,” Carlos Delgado said.

If it is Jordan wagging his tongue or Montana pointing out John Candy in the stands before a late touchdown Super Bowl winning touchdown drive, the great ones define the moment instead of letting it define them.

“You try to calm down a little more,” Wright said. “You can’t get caught up in the situation.” Wright is just 23. He is an MVP candidate today, but maybe a legend tomorrow.