MLB Colorado Rockies study game film on iPods

[Bob Russell]

Video iPods have come to Major League Baseball, and not just for fans. They are now being used by the players to study game film. Apparently, they have become quite popular.

"The Rockies began using video IPods after this year's spring training, when a team video coordinator realized that players could review clips of their swings and opposing pitchers more easily than on their laptop computers. 'We're always looking for ways for our players and staff to more easily access video,' said Mike Hamilton, the Rockies' coordinator of video coaching. 'We had a couple players who already had the video IPods in spring training, and I think they bought them thinking it would just hold more music or a video clip or something like that. Now most of the guys who have gone out and got them bought them exclusively for baseball. That's all they have on it.' Now more than a dozen Rockies use a video IPod, including perennial all-star Todd Helton, who can view five seasons of his best swings on the 21/2-inch screen. The Florida Marlins also have started using the technology. 'It's a neat gadget,' Helton said. 'You get to look at all your at-bats and the upcoming pitchers. And you can keep it right in your locker, and it doesn't bother anybody. I'm a video guy ... I can look back on certain periods when I was feeling good to see what I looked like.'"

No word yet indicating when the first NFL playbook will be ported to e-ink book readers.

From WashingtonTimes<free subscription req'd>.