Explanation for Josh Naylor’s childish HR celebration vs Yankees’ Gerrit Cole is weak

The New York Yankees have forced Game 5 of the ALDS with a 4-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday night. But that was hardly the only story making headlines for the majority of the evening.

When Guardians slugger Josh Naylor went deep off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in Game 4 of the ALDS on Sunday night, many viewers at home were left terribly confused by Naylor’s home run celebration as he rounded the bases.

Emotion is emotion, we get it. Most folks are all for showboating and having a good time. But a solo home run in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 3-2? And you’re screaming your HEAD off and dropping expletives? You do you, we guess.

More importantly, however, Naylor, for a moment, sparked a debate in regard to what many believed was a “beef” with Cole. As Naylor approached third base, he yelled “my little f—ing son” at the Guardians’ dugout, in what was believed to be a reference to the Yankees pitcher.

Turns out, it was! But it was no specific instance. Guardians beat reporter Mandy Bell got the scoop, and Naylor’s teammates relayed that he calls opposing pitchers his “son” after he hits a home run against them.

Weird stuff. But running around the bases like an absolute clown, rocking an imaginary baby, and ensuring every step of the home run trot was animated beyond belief? Again, there’s a time for showboating, and Naylor took it to an awkward extreme.

Josh Naylor’s HR celebration vs Yankees’ Gerrit Cole was embarrassing

Naylor seems like a guy who takes a joke way too far … or absolutely kills a fun moment because he doesn’t know when to stop. For a guy who has 36 CAREER home runs, is he even 20% of the way to calling any pitcher his “son”? It’s just misplaced, hardo behavior.

By Naylor’s logic, Aaron Judge has a whole lot of adult children out there after hitting an AL record 62 homers during the regular season, one on Saturday night, and 220 across his six-year career.

Naylor might have hit a double and a home run against Cole in the 2020 Wild Card series … but his team also lost and was eliminated! His second career homer vs Cole in the postseason, which came Sunday, still had the Guardians trailing. Does this man not understand the concept of winning?

Not only that, but Naylor was 1-for-9 against Cole in the regular season for his career.

Naylor’s valiant home run helped the Guardians lose 4-2. They’ll now travel back to New York for a do-or-die Game 5 in the Bronx. Enjoy the hostile New York crowd, buddy. Ask Myles Straw for some tips on how to handle it.

Is Aaron Boone making right call with Yankees’ Game 4 plan vs Guardians?

The New York Yankees will not hold Gerrit Cole back for a potential Game 5. They're going to use him for Game 4 vs the Cleveland Guardians.