Latter day Babe Ruths of America’s Major League Baseball have been using the ubiquitous iPod to help them to victory.

The Colorado Rockies pitching staff download videos of opposing teams batters to their pitchers’ iPod s, so they can analyse their style and learn how best to strike out their opposition.

Video of the pitchers themselves striking out their opposition are also downloaded, so technique and style can be examined.

Jason Jennings, one of the Rockies’ most talented pitchers, said: “It’s a good way to refresh yourself on how you got guys out.

“It’s an amazing concept.”

Other teams such as Florida and Seattle have noticed the iPod s in the dugouts and have reportedly approached Colorado for advice on the new coaching method.

The idea was the brainchild of the Rockies assistant video coordinator Brian Jones, who said that the method is much more efficient and swift than that of watching hours of video.

As many as five seasons worth of video can be downloaded onto a single iPod for review.

On Monday night the Rockies beat the Oakland Athletics seven to zero, breaking the A’s ten game winning streak.

© 2006 Adfero Ltd