Fourteen baseball players on the Colorado Rockies' roster have 60GB iPods, but they're not listening to music or watching the latest episodes of their favorite TV shows on them. They're studying game film loaded on the devices by the team's assistant video coordinator, Brian Jones.

"We're using Apple's technology as best we can," Mr. Jones told the Associated Press. "We figured if you can watch music videos by rock 'n' roll and by country, why can't you watch at-bats by San Francisco and pitches by Jason Schmidt?"

Rockies pitcher Jason Jennings added: "It's a good way to refresh yourself on how you got guys out. It's an amazing concept."

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton has every hit since 1998 stored on his iPod, where he can look them up by month. August 2000, when he knocked out 50 hits and batted .476, is a favorite. "Baseball is such a messed up sport and it's so hard, sometimes you need to go back and look at the good things," he said.

Game film review is common throughout baseball, but the Rockies are the first to use iPods for that purpose. The Florida Marlins and Seattle Mariners have contacted the team to find out more about it. Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis commented: "I've never heard of that. Oh man, that would be convenient."

Not everyone is sold on the technology, though. Boston Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin said: "There's only so much you can do to get the guys out. These guys have a better idea and a better understanding. You have to rely on your catchers. You had to before video." New York Mets manager Willie Randolph concurred, saying that it wouldn't have worked for him when he played, although he has nothing against his players using it now.

Thanks to iPodObserver.com reader Joshua Shoffer for the link.