Former Cleveland teammate questions Francisco Lindor’s leadership skills with Mets

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Retired infielder Jason Kipnis was never a pitcher, but that doesn’t mean he can’t deliver some big-league chin music.

Kipnis, who spent nine of his 10 years in the big leagues with Cleveland, appeared on Foul Territory TV on Tuesday night and questioned the veteran leadership on the New York Mets in general and former teammate Francisco Lindor in particular.

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While being interviewed by host A.J. Pierzynski, the former big-league catcher, Kipnis was asked about the Mets, who aren’t playing well despite having the largest payroll in the big leagues.

“All those veterans and no leadership,” said Kipnis.

To which Pierzynski replied, “You played with Lindor. Was he a leader?”

“I’ll say it again, all those veterans and no leadership,” answered Kipnis.

Kipnis and Lindor played together in Cleveland for five years. They were Cleveland’s double-play combination for most of that time.

While Kipnis was the established veteran on those teams, Lindor made his big- league debut in 2015 as a hot-shot prospect. He lived up to the billing, finishing second in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2015 and going on to play in four All-Star Games and win two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers with the Indians.

At times there appeared to be tension between the two. Once when a crowd of reporters gathered around a player’s locker after a game, Lindor was in the back of the crowd chirping. Kipnis, from his nearby locker, said, “Shut up, Frankie.”

Lindor is currently hitting .224 (37 for 165) with 14 doubles, six homers and 31 RBI in 43 games for the Mets. Last year the Mets won 101 games, but lost in the wild card round. Lindor finished ninth in the NL MVP voting.

This year, with a $330 million payroll, New York is 20-23 and 6 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East.

“If everybody is a veteran there, you’re just under the assumption that everyone is taking carer of their business and going about things the right way,” said Kipnis. “But you kind of need someone to be those bumper pins on each side when people start getting out of line a little bit.

“It helps keep people in order and in track and focused on the same thing. Everybody gets a little comfortable because it’s all veterans, and you don’t have to worry about what you’re doing because you can do no wrong.

“You kind of forget that (feeling of) being on edge when you’re a young guy. Oh, I don’t know if a veteran saw me or should I be doing this? You lose that, ‘hould I be doing the right thing mentality.’”

Cleveland traded Lindor to the Mets in January of 2021. In April that year, he signed a 10-year $341 million deal with the Mets.

The Guardians open a three-game series against the Mets at Citi Field on Friday.

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