Officially Speaking: An Umpire's Point of View... for Coaches, Players and Fans Too

Officially Speaking brings an umpire's unique point of view to coaches, players and fans, as well as the everyday umpire working 8-12 games every weekend your assignor can squeeze out of you. Former Minor League turned college umpires Luke Hamilton & Brian Hertzog (@LukeBrianTour) will take you around the world, talking with sports officials from all corners of the globe. From 6,900 feet up, overlooking beautiful Lake Hallstatt in Austria, to our unintentional around-the-world trip home after umpiring rubber baseball in Taipei, you'll find it here on the podcast as well as our YouTube Channel!

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Episodes

S1:E4 John White, Umpire Placement Course

In this week's podcast we'll be talking to John White of Umpire Placement Course just before his visit down to Florida. He'll be working with students out of both professional umpire schools for placement in the West Coast League , among others, in 2019. Next, Brian R. Hertzog talks briefly about a camp that he's been looking forward to putting on in the weeks to come for Northwest Baseball Umpires Association (NBUA) . Last, we'll fact check Alex Rodriguez and his claim that Rockies Manager Bud ...

Dec 11, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 4

S1:E6 Umpire Thomas Haywood, Confederation of European Baseball

Confederation of European Baseball Umpire Thomas Haywood is THE guy whom Luke and Brian have to thank for the opportunity to umpire in places like Austria, England, Taiwan, and coming up in August of 2019, Xi'an, China! In this conversation with Thomas we'll talk about his multiple trips to Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring - first as a student, then as a photographer - some of his favorite places to umpire, and how all of us are working towards including MORE umpires from the US on our...

May 30, 2019•54 min•Season 1Ep. 6

S1:E5 Arbitro Jairo Martinez, Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional

This week we'll reach into the way-back machine all the way to Luke and Brian's first big trip together in 2011, the Venezuela Winter League. Today we're joined by our good friend and 16-yr Crew Chief en La Liga, Arbitro (Umpire) Jairo Martinez . 2:51 - We welcome 20-yr veteran of la Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional, Jairo Martinez. 4:38 - Gearing up for baseball season for us means winding down for professional baseball in Latin America, culminating with the Caribbean World Series. 9:06 -...

Mar 01, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 5

S1:E3 The Luke Brian Tour - this is how we roll...

"In two-thousand seventeen, a crack-commando umpire crew traveled the world umpiring baseball, and never once forgot to bring the drone. "These men have survived questionable Airbnb's, White Cliffs, and rubber baseballs, from Taipei to the London Underground. "Today, still ridiculed by armchair umpires, they somehow survive unscathed by 'Homer Announcers' worldwide. "If you have a tournament, and the thought of traveling YouTube umpires blows your mind… maybe you can hire, The @LukeBrianTour . "...

Jan 25, 2019•52 min•Season 1Ep. 3

S1:E2 Branch Rickey Pt 2 - Jackie Robinson and Branch Sr.

03:30 - Branch Rickey's options following high school and ending up at Ohio Wesleyan, the same as his father, grandfather and multiple family members. 06:24 - The year Branch Rickey, Sr was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and a brief explanation of the structure of an MLB farm system... "It's a particularly fun inheritance." -B.R. 07:55 - Branch Rickey, Sr coaches a team at Ohio Wesleyan in the early-1900's and has a pivotal experience, laying groundwork over 40 yrs in advance of Jackie...

Apr 16, 2018•21 min•Season 1Ep. 2

S1:E1 Branch Rickey - Pacific Coast League President & International Man of Mystery

03:39 - Triple-A Pacific Coast League President, Mr. Branch Rickey. 06:12 - How nostalgia evokes emotions in us from the relationships created over the course of a career. "The bonds that reach across the decades." -B.R. 09:09 - Branch's start in professional baseball, The Appy. 13:28 - The most unique story I've ever heard from Branch, the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, Germany; his keepsake from those games. “As the blood ran down from his nose over his lip... the blood spewed out and dappled m...

Apr 15, 2018•38 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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