Great article on Chris' first game back! :)

Gimenez excited about return to the field

By Taylor Soper / MLB.com | 09/10/11 2:00 AM ET

SEATTLE -- Catcher Chris Gimenez made his first start in over two months on Thursday against the Royals and said it feels great to be back on the field.

"It was more exciting than anything," said Gimenez, who finished 0-for-3. "It was just exciting and kind of refreshing to get back out there. Standing in the dugout with your cleats on and your jersey as opposed to turf shoes and warm-ups -- just knowing that I can do something to help the team is a good feeling."

Gimenez, 28, appeared in 16 games for the Mariners before he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique on June 29. He then was placed on the 60-day DL on July 3 before beginning a rehab assignment at Triple-A Tacoma in late August.

He played 13 games with Tacoma and hit .265. Through 18 games this season with Seattle, the 28-year-old is hitting just .159 (7-for-44), but says that he isn't concentrating too hard on improving his average.

"For me, I kind of just throw the average out the window," Gimenez said. "To me, I think average is the worst stat in baseball because you can do everything right and line out, or a guy makes a great play and it goes against you.

"For me, it's just having quality at-bats and just going up there and putting a professional at-bat up. That's something the coaching staff really looks for, just not giving yourself up. The hits will come. I have not had as many at-bats this year as I'd like, due to different reasons, but I'm just trying to really get myself going in the right direction for next year, and get that confidence going again."

Gimenez is part of a three catcher rotation with Miguel Olivo and Josh Bard. He says the experience he's been able to have with both has been invaluable.

"Both Olivo and Bard know I'm there rooting for them, just like they are for me," Gimenez said. "Last night, I could hear Olivo screaming for me every time I blocked a ball or we struck a guy out. It's good to have guys like that to have your back and just knowing that you'd do the same for them as well."