Alderson pointed out that since one ball is tested from each lot, that if the commissioner, Bud Selig, was scheming to juice up the balls, he would have to go secretly to Costa Rica, and then not only order the formula changed, but also demand that one ball in each lot be made to the old specifications so that it could pass tests. That's a powerful lot of conspiracy. Well, conspiracy fans, I'm sorry, those are your only choices. Striking out is not the stigma it used to be, so all players wail away, trying to hit more home runs. Lighting is better than ever, and, as Alderson points out, vision is so correctable now that everybody can see the ball better.
Umpires have, through the years, shrunk the strike zone to the batters' advantage.
And, surely most important of all, like other modern athletes, hitters are bigger and stronger than ever. So, of course, are the pitchers, but whereas power hitting is primarily a function of strength, pitching is a learned craft. And there are simply not that many good pitchers who have learned how to pitch well. If you still want to believe that they are secretly juicing up the ball, may I suggest you move to Roswell, N.M. and chat with our high government officials who are sleeping there with beautiful little green aliens. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.