New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. (David Richard-USA TODAY Sports)
Yankees fans owe Josh Naylor a thank you for waking up big-game Gerrit Cole
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole and manager Aaron Boone were dismissive of Josh Naylor’s rocking-the-baby celebration after an ultimately meaningless home run.
The Yankees were fighting for their postseason lives on Sunday night against the Guardians. So in the end, it was more important to make sure Josh Naylor’s fourth-inning home run didn’t lead to more runs than to linger on the memorable celebration the Cleveland slugger unleashed.
Naylor rocked his arms like a hammock for a baby as he rounded the bases after cutting New York’s lead to one run.
Gerrit Cole said he didn’t see the celebration himself. It didn’t matter. He responded like he had allowing just one hit and no runs in the aftermath as the Yankees took Game 4, 4-2.
Everything the Yankees said about Josh Naylor’s home run celebration
After the game, Cole called the celebration “cute” in the most deprecating way possible. He looked neither entertained nor unimpressed.
Gerrit Cole was asked about Josh Naylor’s celebration:
“Yeah, whatever. It’s cute… I didn’t see it in the moment. It wouldn’t have bothered in the moment and it just is kind of funny.” pic.twitter.com/JQy9DfgJk9
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 17, 2022
Manager Aaron Boone wasn’t having any of it either.
“We can’t get caught up in that, we’re trying to win,” Boone said.
Some fans will love Naylor’s celebration, seeing it as an injection of personality and fun. Others will instead argue it was classless. Yankees fans may just spend the evening laughing at how it backfired.
What matters at the end of the night is that Naylor could only drag the Guardians to two runs in a pivotal game when New York produced four runs to keep their season alive.
It’ll all come down to Monday when the two teams face off in Game 5 for the right to head to the ALCS.
New York will have the home-field advantage. Cleveland will take heart knowing they managed to win Game 2 at Yankee Stadium.
We’ll see if Jameson Taillon can match Cole’s effort from Game 4 or if Aaron Civale can send the Guardians through.
