Haute dogs and hot balls

It's Memorial Day in the U.S., when thoughts turn to such national pastimes as baseball games and outdoor picnics. In that vein, here are a couple of relevant pieces from the Wall Street Journal:

• Why Hitting Curveballs Scores More Homers; How Pedro Proves Rule: Researchers have found that the conventional wisdom that a fastball is more likely to be smacked over the fence is simply wrong.
• Dear, the $9 Hot Dogs Are Burning: "For America's nationwide cookout this weekend, the new crucial accessory isn't a top-of-the-line grill or a fancy laser thermometer. It's the kind of pedigreed beef, pork and fowl associated more with three-star restaurants than with backyard spatula jockeys."