Doesn’t matter if it’s high-def TV on a 72-inch screen. Don’t believe what you see, believe what you’re told.
Thursday afternoon, in his first at-bat against the Rays, Brett Gardner, 35 years old, struck out looking at a pitch that appeared a tad inside. He seemed convinced rookie ump Brennan Miller was out to get him.
Yet, the batter before, Gio Urshela, had hit a two-run homer to tie the score, and Miller had not called a strike — but four balls — on the three Yankees who proceeded Gardner that half-inning.
Still, Gardner returned to the dugout then went berserk, first slamming his bat against the bat rack then into one of the compartments — as hard as he could — nine times before he stopped.