^^^As good ol' Axl once said, "Not to be an asshole..." you had said Bonds was a regular 40+ home run hitter throughout the '90's. You gave 4 years including 2000. The "'90's" includes '90 through '99. 3 out of 10 years were 40+. 6 were 30+. He was a 30-something homer per year player before steroids. Like I said, he was the best player in baseball before the steroids. The juice was flat-out greed and that's why people are so disgusted by him. McGwire is also a known steroid boy but he doesn't catch as much shit because he slunk away from baseball with his tail between his legs. It was admission by omission.
Also, you make Gwynn out to be some sort of changed hitter. He had 14 homers in '86. He had 17 in his best hr season in '97. The "10+ homer" number is great too. He had 10, 16, and 17 in those massive power years. Did you ever consider where Tony hit in the lineup for the Padres? Believe it or not, Gwynn was fast before he got fat. He averaged about 37 stolen bases per year in the '80's. He hit in the 1 and 2 slots primarily. He was not asked to hit for power. As he got older and slower they couldn't keep him in the same lineup slot...hence, the slight increase in homers and a definite increase in rbi's.
When it comes to Game of Shadows, I'm not referring to the heresay from a scorned lover. I'm talking about the overwhelming evidence Barry was juicing. BALCO. The Clean and the Clear. The writers weren't out to crucify Barry, they were there to expose the truth. The thing is, the stories that you call heresay can be backed up by witnesses, receipts, etc.
Yes, you are right about MLB being awash in steroids and banned substances. It's part of the reason I don't follow baseball like I did when I was a kid. To me, baseball is flawed. If the NFL ever goes this way it will be a sad day. Fortunately, they've been tough with their steroid policy...and lately, the code of conduct. Just another reason football is now the best pro sport league in the United States.
Is Barry the only guilty player? Hell no! He just broke a record held for 33 years with the aid of steroids. Do steroids help a player hit a ball further? Let me put it this way. A wiry 6' 1" 185 pound guy (Barry's rookie vitals) will have a lot less chance of hitting 73 home runs than a 6' 1" 240 pound guy (73 home run steroid freak). He has put on 55 pounds of chiseled muscle. Did you see the physical transformation and do you think it was "all-natural?" How 'bout Big Mac? Lenny Dykstra? Ken Camniti?? The list goes on and on.
Baseball is a farce and yes, I agree that pitchers have been juicing as well.