Meet our new writer, Tyler Weimerskirch

The day I accepted the opportunity to write for Bucs Dugout, the feelings could only be comparable to when a young player gets the call that he is being brought up to ‘The Show’. I like to see baseball as a form of art. The battle between the pitcher and batter, the placement of pitches, or even the sequence for a given situation is all a part of an ongoing chess match that requires hours of planning and film study.

To have the opportunity to cover the game of baseball could not be said any better than what the late Babe Ruth describes

Baseball was, is, and always will be the best game in the world to Me.

Truer words could never be uttered.

Even in High School I had passion for sports writing. I took a class that allowed me to write for a local paper, The Advance Leader, where I published a few articles on the Penguins and Steelers.

That being said, I wanted to introduce myself and let the readers get a feel for who I am as a writer and as a person. I am husband and father who resides in the Pittsburgh Area. Sports have been a huge part of my life since I was little and is something that I have carried through all stages of my life.

My sports background started in my playing days; I participated in football and baseball at Riverview HS and was offered a preferred walk-on spot with Waynesburg University for both sports.

However, I had a tough decision after having major elbow surgery in my senior year. At that time I decided to hang up my cleats and move on with a different track in life.

After passing on Waynesburg University I decided to attend California University of PA studying Sports Management. Following my senior year, I did an intership with the former AFL Pittsburgh Powers front office where I got to see the inner workings of a professional front office. This was a great experience for me. To be able to listen in on GM meetings, work with the scouting staff, and assisting with player tryouts was an invaluable educational experience for me. I learned a lot about how to scout a players at the highest level.

After my academic career I started working in the tech world, and even knowing that I was not going to do something full time, I still found a way to be involved in sports. I took an opportunity to coach at the Minor Pro Football level with the Pittsburgh Colts, a franchise that was established for nearly 40 years in the Pittsburgh area. The Colts had a hand in getting a variety of players to the next level, helping them get game film and putting that video in front of pro scouts. I had the honor of coaching the Colts into the final years of the organization’s history.

After my stint with the Colts, I made the decision to hang up the whistle and leave coaching. However, I will always find a way to be a part of professional sports. When you love something, you cannot stay away for too long.

I had the opportunity to cover the Steelers training camp as well as providing some draft analysis to get some experience in the field.

I am very excited to join an already great team of writers for such a respected SB Nation site. I look forward to interacting with and writing for such a passionate fan base over the remainder of the season. I hope to provide the community with a unique perspective of the game through the eyes of someone that has seen professional sports at various different levels.

Let’s Go Bucs!