BRADENTON, Fla. — Maybe Wayne Gretzky wants to take batting practice with the Pittsburgh Pirates when they visit Phoenix in late May.

Gretzky, a baseball fan, has a new friend in the majors — Pirates outfielder Jason Bay, a native Canadian and hockey fan who became acquaintances with the Phoenix Coyotes coach while living in suburban Phoenix during the offseason.

One of the first congratulatory calls Bay got after Canada upset the United States 8-6 in the World Baseball Classic this month was from Gretzky, who had returned two weeks before from defending champion Canada's surprise elimination in the Olympic hockey quarterfinals.

"He said it makes up for losing in the Olympics," Bay said. "He said he wanted to say congratulations and to tell the guys, 'Way to go.' It was nice of him to take that time, in the middle of the season and right after Olympics — he had a lot going on. It was a nice gesture."

Bay and Gretzky had talked before the World Baseball Classic started, and Gretzky planned to take batting practice with Team Canada if it played a second-round game in Phoenix. However, the United States and Mexico advanced from Canada's pool.

"He said, 'I'd love to take batting practice,' and I said, 'I'm sure we can squeeze you in. I don't think it's going to be a problem,"' Bay said.

Even if Gretzky couldn't be there, Bay said the World Baseball Classic was as motivating as anything he has experienced in baseball. He said it will further drive him to try to help make the Pirates a contending team again.

"You can't simulate the emotion. I got there and thought, 'Hey, if we win a game or two, great,"' Bay said. "But you go out there against South Africa and we're down by one run in the ninth and my heart's tearing through my jersey. I'm thinking, 'I should not feel like this on March 7.' And we pull that out.

"Then we go out and expect to lose to the United States, and we're up 8-0. I would assume that's what it's like to play in the World Series or the playoffs, or a playoff race, where every out is so important, where, if you don't win, there's no game tomorrow. We had six outs left, and we're counting down every out. That's what a lot of guys here want to experience."

It's something no Pirates player has experienced since 1992, the last time the franchise appeared in the playoffs and had a winning season.