Each team in the American League, followed by the player who hit that team's longest home run in 2010 (data courtesy of Hit Tracker Online):
| Anaheim | Bobby Abreu |
| Baltimore | Matt Wieters |
| Boston | David Ortiz |
| Chicago | Carlos Quentin |
| Cleveland | Shin-soo Choo |
| Detroit | Miguel Cabrera |
| Kansas City | Billy Butler |
| Minnesota | Jim Thome |
| New York | Curtis Granderson |
| Oakland | Jack Cust |
| Seattle | Eliezer Alfonzo |
| Tampa Bay | Evan Longoria |
| Texas | Josh Hamilton |
| Toronto | Edwin Encarnacion |
Pretty much everything about this damn team was humiliating.
It's not that Eliezer Alfonzo isn't strong. He clearly is, or else he wouldn't be here. But everybody else on that list is at least a somewhat worthwhile player. Alfonzo's just a journeyman who, like Chris Woodward and Guillermo Quiroz, most people need to be reminded actually played for the Mariners. Alfonzo showed up, homered in his first game, didn't in his next 12, and then went away. He meant absolutely nothing, and yet here he is, atop a leaderboard.
The Mariners weren't terrible because Eliezer Alfonzo hit their longest home run. But I feel like the fact that Eliezer Alfonzo hit their longest home run captures the spirit of the season pretty well.
(I promise that I'll quit reflecting on 2010 one of these days, but it's not my fault the Mariners haven't signed a minor league free agent in a week.)
0 recs | 37 comments
I remember being at Safeco for one of his first three games or so.
Probably his second, because I got a kick out of seeing his .800 batting average on the display, but I don’t remember an impressive homerun.
Joe Metro - December 1, 2010
He hit it in Anaheim in his season debut
Good times
Jeff Sullivan - December 1, 2010
Indeed
Three run shot deep into the second bullpen if I remember correctly.
seamariners85 - December 1, 2010
If I remember correctly I was at that game and it was the one we blew a 8-1 lead in right?
Kenneth Arthur - December 2, 2010
I checked on Baseball Reference.
I made it to the games on Tuesday and Wednesday. I got to see a 7-1 Mariners victory from the bleachers and then the extra innings 2-1 win some 13 rows behind the dugout.
Man, that was a good trip.
Joe Metro - December 1, 2010
Somehow, that didn't make the Top Ten Least Remarkable Moments list, did it.
fiftyone - December 1, 2010
Edwin Encarnacion? You're pathetic Toronto
DrunkAmerican - December 1, 2010
I was looking more at the Curtis Granderson one for New York.
Somehow that surprises me. I know Granderson has some pop and definitely pull power, but with the other power hitters on that team, Granderson somehow got it?
I’m boggled.
The Typical Idiot Fan - December 1, 2010
I think that exemplifies the Yankees season as well.
AceJC - December 1, 2010
Really surprised it wasn't Bautista
vivaelpujols - December 1, 2010
Clearly Bautista just got lucky 50 times or so.
fiftyone - December 1, 2010
We should be grateful to Eliezer Alfonzo for helping make 2010 a more forgettable season.
If this had been Russel Branyan, Ken Griffy Jr., or Mike Sweeney, for example, it would have given us something to remember when we looked at this list. There is very little about Eliezer Alfonzo’s stint at catcher for the 2010 Mariners that is memorable. I am looking for any way I can find to forget 2010 as I look forward to 2011. Thank you Jeff for helping find ways to accomplish this.
Droid Rage - December 1, 2010
I'm surprised that none of Griffey's blasts this year made the list.
Kirk - December 1, 2010 via mobile
When you're out-homered by Chone Figgins, you're doing it wrong.
thehemogoblin - December 1, 2010
I really hope no one is still participating in the Griffey Challenge.
LonelyintheBleachers - December 1, 2010
God I miss food
Graham MacAree - December 1, 2010
It should have ended when Griffey ran home.
skjes - December 2, 2010 via mobile
The only Griffey blasts that would have counted came in video games.
I don’t think they were tallied by Hit Tracker. Too bad; it may have ended the Griffey Challenge on a positive note.
Droid Rage - December 1, 2010
I'm surprised it wasn't Russell Branyan's upper deck home run in New York
zehavi - December 1, 2010
My initial thought too...
I wonder if this is based on actual distance traveled or not. It doesn’t appear to be. Maybe his didn’t go as far because it had more air under it?
basebliman - December 2, 2010
Hit Tracker has Alfonzo's homerun at 449 feet.
And Branyan’s at 440 feet.
JLProck - December 2, 2010
I don't have a problem with a long 2010 reflection period
We all had to sit through that shit, might as well get some mileage out of it.
Gihyou - December 1, 2010
I'm still reflecting as well, but I find this "Fun Fact" to be not so fun. We were completely awful.
At this point, I’m just glad Loafie didn’t have the longest one.
TrustBaseball - December 1, 2010
At least the "were" in your statement makes me feel a little better about things
Thank God that’s over
bomdal - December 1, 2010
And to be honest I would've gotten all this reflection out of the way in October had I not been distracted by the playoffs
Jeff Sullivan - December 1, 2010
Shin-soo Choo?
What the hell were you doing in Cleveland, Branyan?
JAH - December 1, 2010
Choo is good.
Mariner John - December 1, 2010
Fuckin' Ben Broussard.
MT Olson - December 2, 2010
Swallow better.
ThomasG - December 2, 2010
Uhhh, wait.
ThomasG - December 2, 2010
watch the video
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8520725
Alfonzo gets pestered with constant positivity from Mike Sweeney and you can tell he just wants him to shut the hell up.
Michael Barr - December 1, 2010
An awesome list would be which Mariner hit the longest HR each season.
fiftyone - December 1, 2010
Hit Tracker Online only goes to 2005, so here's the list back that far:
’09 – Russell Branyan, 459 ft.
’08 – Raul Ibanez, 452 ft.
’07 – Raul Ibanez, 451 ft.
’06 – Raul Ibanez, 468 ft.
’05 – Bret Boone, 408 ft.
Really? Only 408 feet, Bret Boone? I realize this is coming from someone who couldn’t come anywhere near 400 feet, but come on!
JLProck - December 1, 2010
2005 is only based on a sample of three home runs
Hit Tracker wasn’t really operational until 2006.
Jeff Sullivan - December 1, 2010
Yeah, I just realized that.
Apologies, Bret Boone.
JLProck - December 1, 2010
No apologies necessary to Raul, however.
That 468-footer in ’06 is a mother.
fiftyone - December 2, 2010 via mobile
Where have you gone, Richie Sexson?
Also, thanks JL.
fiftyone - December 2, 2010 via mobile
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