Go big or go home.

That has been Chris' motto for as long as can remember.  He always gives 100% in everything he does.  That is definitely something that I love about him.  But I never thought that he would "go big" with his injuries too.  On Monday Chris pulled his oblique during BP before the game.  The trainer looked at and told him that he was going to have to take it easy for a few days.  But unfortunately, later that night Miguel Olivo was forced to leave the game in the 4th inning with tightness in his hamstring.  Since Chris was the only back up catcher, he had to go in the game despite his injury.  Chris said after his first throw he knew that it was going to be a long game.  But he sucked it up for the team and finished the game.  Immediately after the game, the trainer looked at his oblique and put him the 15-day DL.

Chris said this tag felt like knifes stabbing in his left side.

Chris had an MRI today to see how bad his injury really is.  Unfortunately, Chris didn't get any good news.  His oblique is a stage 3 strain out of 3.  The doctor said it was one of the worst tears he has ever seen.  He told Chris that it will probably take 8 weeks until he is back to 100%.  This is such sad news for Chris and this season.  But I truly believe that things happen for a reason...so I trust that there is a reason why this happened.  Maybe it will be because Chris and I will get to spend a lot of time together before the arrival of our son.  Since Chris is completely out of commission for at least a month, he won't be going on the road trips with the team.  So we will get to spend every day together while the team is on the road.  Or maybe Chris can spend some more with his buddy Max.  Max definitely loves spending time with Chris, so he will definitely love the extra attention he is going to get.  But whatever the reason, it is just a part of baseball and something that we will work through together.  But we would definitely love some prayers for a fast recovery!

Here is an article talking about Chris' injury.

Gimenez toughed out Tuesday through pain

By Greg Johns / MLB.com | 06/29/11 3:03 PM ET

SEATTLE -- Chris Gimenez wound up on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, but the Mariners backup earned considerable respect from his manager and teammates after gutting out the final six innings Tuesday while playing with a strained oblique muscle in his side.

Gimenez was hurting so much that manager Eric Wedge told him not to swing in his final at-bat, so he twice tried to lay down a bunt with two outs and runners on first and second in the seventh inning.

Gimenez said he knew that move would raise eyebrows, but Wedge vowed he'd "clear his name" afterward by explaining the situation.

"I was ticked, because I felt utterly helpless and I'm trying to bunt with two outs -- That's not baseball," Gimenez said. "I just got as close as I possibly could to the plate and was just, 'C'mon, just please hit me.'

"I got to 3-2, and thought I actually had a shot, but he throws one right down the middle of the plate. What are you going to do? Everybody is booing me and I'm thinking, 'This is friggin' great.' Everybody thinks I'm the biggest idiot. But I swear to God, there was a reason for it."

The reason was enough to land Gimenez on the disabled list for the first time in his career, which was equally painful for the 28-year-old, who has played just 16 games as Miguel Olivo's backup this season.

Gimenez said he felt something tweak in his side during batting practice before Tuesday's game and he immediately stopped and had it checked out by trainer Rick Griffin, then hoped nothing would go wrong with the durable Olivo.

But Olivo's hamstring cramped up in the third inning and Gimenez found himself in the game, hoping for the best. He said one throw back to pitcher Michael Pineda let him know it was going to be a long night.

Yet with veteran infielder Adam Kennedy as the team's emergency catcher, the club's options were limited. Kennedy, playing third base, has never caught in a game in his career.

"That was kind of the big thing for me," Gimenez said. "I knew no matter what, I had to stay in there. I'm not going to put anybody else in jeopardy of getting hurt. Adam already looked like he wanted to puke just from the fact he possibly could have to go in if something else happened."

With Olivo still hurting and new catcher Josh Bard just arriving from Tacoma, teammates were joking with Kennedy about being ready prior to Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

"You should probably ask Adam what was going through his head those last four, five innings," Wedge said.

"I'm just very glad to see Bard today," said Kennedy.