Magic dirt, the fate of former professional athletes, and other sports randomness

A sports-related (mostly baseball) link dump.

• A look at the special dirt that is used by Major League Baseball to prepare balls for use.
• As you might have expected, professional athletes don't fare all that well financially once they retire, or even while they are still playing. We sort of knew that going in; it's sad that not much has changed.
• A very weird triple play.
• The worst plate appearance in the history of baseball. I even learned a new unit of distance: the Pedroia.