I have heard that argument from the steroid apologists.
Where to start:
Look at their numbers before and after they admitted to starting use. So, they just went on a tear (at an age when most players decline) as a coincidence?
Strength helps such that when you hit a ball, which under normal conditions would have been a fly ball out, it now suddenly flies over the fence.
It helps that when you normally would have gotten tired or worn out during the long season, you are healing up just fine and can continue along your merry way.
If the players weren’t sure it helped, then why the secrecy? Why Balco?
One may as well ask, has it been proven that steroids and blood doping helped Lance Armstrong? Different sports for sure, but different doping too.
Understood—I would like to see a lot more detailed analysis on this topic. You make good arguments.
Hitting a baseball is uniquely difficult—many small players have become great home run hitters over the years and there are a lot of big brutes that never make it to the majors because they can’t hit a curve ball or slider.
Baseball has been trying hard to sweep this issue under the rug—when transparency and serious study is where they should have gone.