Balls, Strikes, and Bourbon

After being forced to take an extended absence from recording, Bernnie and Josh are back to talk about baseball (and sometimes softball) rules, umpiring, and whiskey. In the first episode of the third season of BSB, Josh enjoys a simple, classic cocktail, Bernnie sips some maple-y goodness, and the pair talk about where they've been, what season three will bring, and a high school obstruction play that has been making the rounds on social media. Stay tuned for more plays, rules, guests, and whiskey!

After a brief hiatus, Bernnie and Josh return to discuss a few plays they have seen recently, sip some good, simple whiskies, and have a guest appearance by Bernnie's fire alarm.

In season two's ninth episode, Josh doesn't show up on time to record, so he is replaced by retired Major League Baseball umpire Dale Scott. Bernnie and Dale talk about Old Forester 1920, Jack Daniel's and other "Tennessee" whiskies, umpire crew dynamics, and umpiring with difficult partners. Dale's book, The Umpire Is Out: Calling the Game and Living My True Self, talks about his umpiring career and his experience being a pioneer for LGBTQ+ people within baseball and across sports. The book is available on his website, umpiredalescott.com, and can also found at most major book retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.)

Bernnie, Josh, returning guest Justin, and first-time guest Bobby talk about some of the things they see and hear in the baseball world that really grind their gears.

In the seventh episode of season two, the boys discuss game management, ground rules, and drink a little bit of bourbon.

In the sixth episode of their second season, the guys wrap up the discussion about appeals over pours of two unique bourbons from smaller distilleries.

Justin joins Bernnie and Josh for a discussion on three-person umpiring mechanics. Bernnie reveals that the show is, in fact, the best podcast in the universe.

What is an appeal? Who can appeal? What makes an appeal legal? What kind of whiskey are Bernnie and Josh drinking? This episode contains the answers to these (and other) burning questions.

In episode three, Bernnie and Josh talk about the new NFHS terminology regarding pitching positions and discuss the differences between forced and non-forced runners.

Josh tries a glass of bourbon from a barrel pick by a previous guest, Bernnie drinks something lower proof, and the two talk about the way the rule book is written and why it is so important to understand the little differences in terminology.

After hibernating all fall and winter, Bernnie and Josh are back! Season two starts out with discussion about bottled-in-bond whiskey (and other drinks), some tips for prepping for the new baseball season, and some discussion about knocking off the metaphorical dust as the season begins.

It's finally here! As promised, "Season One" of Balls, Strikes, & Bourbon wraps up with a show entirely about whiskey. Special guest Jay (@WoodfordBourbonGuy on TikTok and Instagram) sits down with Bernnie and Josh and the three go on a two-hour-long adventure into the world of whiskey. If you're a whiskey fan, you won't want to miss this episode!

In Episode 14, Bernnie and Josh discuss bourbon, Scotch, and having successful discussions with players and coaches. Handling unusual situations and the conversations that take place during and after them are a skill that is important to learn and grow as an official. Hopefully, some of the tips that are discussed in this episode will help you learn and grow and handle situations more effectively and efficiently.

Despite some technical issues getting the recorded audio tracks to sync properly, here is episode thirteen! In this episode, Bernnie and Josh discuss wearing, selecting, fitting, and taking care of gear and uniforms.

In episode twelve, the guys talk about baserunning awards. This episode is primarily based on the National Federation of High Schools rulebook, but with some references to Official Baseball Rules.

In this episode, Bernnie and Josh talk about keeping lineups, recording substitutions, handling defensive and offensive conferences, and a couple of other smaller subtopics. Batting out of order and illegal substitutions should have been discussed, but, due to forgetfulness and whiskey, they were not. They'll be at the beginning of episode twelve, we promise.

This episode discusses the three things that this show is named after: Balls, strikes, and bourbon. Guest Justin Sampson joins Bernnie and Josh to discuss calling balls and strikes, taking plays at home, and rotating to cover third base in the two-umpire system.

This episode features a little bit of self-reflection by Bernnie and Josh. Their seasons are over and they are taking a look back at what makes them feel successful after a game and after a season, as well as diving into some standards they have heard others use for measuring success.

This episode features discussion about offensive, spectator, and umpire interference, and what snacks pair well with certain whiskies.

Episode seven of Balls, Strikes, and Bourbon features discussion between Bernnie, Josh, and three guests about common rules myths, made-up rules, whiskey, coffee, and some fun times on and off the field.

Josh and Bernnie discuss the on and off-field responsibilities of being a home plate umpire. This episode is the first of at least two that will discuss working the plate. Preparing for the game, starting the game, seeing the strike zone, and a handful of other topics are discussed, as are two delicious whiskies.

In this fifth episode of Balls, Strikes, & Bourbon, the guys discuss what makes an act by a pitcher legal or illegal, Josh tries a "Farm to Barrel" bourbon, and Bernnie has a tasting of three bottles that showed up on his doorstep by surprise.

This (delayed) episode features Bernnie (with maybe a drink or two too many) and Josh discussing their personal tips for learning, growing, and being consistent as an umpire. Old Fashioneds and King's County bourbon are discussed, a couple of humorous stories from games are told, and the stage is set for next week's beverages.

This week, the guys talk about the basics of properly running the bases, Josh drinks whiskey, and Bernnie drinks a gimmick-y beverage (that is actually quite tasty), the previous week's relatively-uneventful games are recapped, basketball is briefly discussed, and the stage is set for next week.

This week, Bernnie and Josh discuss their week of umpiring, Maker's Mark and Thirteenth Colony whiskies, and dip their toes into the often-turbulent waters that surround the obstruction rules in the OBR, NCAA, and NFHS rulebooks. This episode is a bit longer than the initial goal, but there was just too much content to cut down to less than an hour.

Welcome to Balls, Strikes, & Bourbon! In this pilot episode, hosts Bernnie and Josh discuss their passion for umpiring, two delicious bourbons, parenting, and their inspiration for the show.