He could be holding the paddle because he's about to play a sport but got frustrated by the rules. Or perhaps he had an argument with someone and picked up the paddle in anger.
The reason could be that he was cheated in a paddle-related game and is now really mad. Or it might just be a random scene in the cartoon with no specific reason behind his anger and the paddle.
The cartoon man might be holding the paddle because he's involved in a competition or just having fun. It's hard to say exactly without more details about the cartoon.
Maybe he's feeling threatened and wants to protect himself.
Maybe he had a bad day or someone did something mean to him.
It could be that he didn't get what he wanted or something unexpected happened that made him angry. Sometimes, even the smallest things can set someone off in a cartoon.
Perhaps they are in a competition or a challenge and holding each other is part of the game. Or it could symbolize a bond or connection between them that the cartoon wants to convey to the audience.
It could be for a variety of reasons, like showing friendship or assistance.
Maybe he's just won a prize or got a reward for something he did.
Maybe he's the baby's father and is showing his love and care.
Maybe he just doesn't have anything specific to communicate at the moment.