Miggy B Loves Some Kenny G

This has got to be one of the funniest baseball-related posts of this young year. Mariners starting pitcher Miguel Batista, apparently likes the soprano saxophone a lot. Eventually, Batista took up the instrument as a hobby and not surprisingly idolized the king of the genre - Kenny G.

The result was an awkward encounter between a fan - the professional baseball player - and a pseudo celebrity - the master of the super market anthem.

The close of the article is especially ambiguous as the author writes Batista "this time, was the one receiving instead of giving." Ouch.

The Mariners pitcher and blossoming soprano saxophone buff was invited to a concert at the Dodger Theatre in Phoenix on Tuesday, where he spent 20 minutes backstage with his musical idol, Seattle native Kenny G. They talked music, baseball and saxophone breathing techniques in a private waiting area before Batista was serenaded with his very own Kenny G session.

"He played for me," Batista said. "It was my favorite song, 'Alone.' Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete."

Batista took private sax lessons at the University of Washington last summer. He was inspired to begin playing the instrument after listening to CDs of Kenny G's music in the
1990s.

Kenny G, whose real name is Kenneth Gorelick, heard about Batista being a fan after The Times published a story about the pitcher last August that detailed, among other things, his new musical hobby. Representatives for the team and Gorelick arranged the meeting when it was discovered that Batista's spring training here in the Phoenix area coincided with the date of the musician's one-night performance.

Partway through the sold-out concert, the musician left the stage while playing "Havana" and waded through the aisles, slowly approaching Batista's seat.

"Then he pauses from playing," Batista said. "And he goes, 'Thanks, guy, it was cool today.' "

Batista is used to being thanked by others. But this time, he was the one receiving instead of giving.