A federal grand jury indictment on Thursday charged Barry Bonds, baseball's record home run hitter, with perjury and obstruction of justice and accused him of testing positive for performance-enhancing steroids. - CNN


Perjury, obstruction explained - Sports Illustrated

How does taking steroids improve a hitter's performance? This may sound a silly question but I've only got batsmen in cricket to compare. Both batters and batsmen have the same job: hitting a fast moving, swerving, ball as far, or as accurately hard, as possible. Yet top batsmen in cricket come in all sizes. There have been a few heavies at the top level; one English international weighed 18 stone plus(252lbs plus);but most are normal athletes and a very few are decidedly below average height and weight . That's because hitting is essentially a matter of excellent hand- eye coordination and superb reflexes.Without those, sheer muscle or bulk doesn't help (the player would take up rugby instead ) .Extra weight could be a hindrance in cricket: it makes the player slower between the wickets (bases), for a start.

Bonds must have been good at his pre-enlarged state, if physically mature then. So how would added bulk from steroids help? Are other top hitters as heavy as Bonds ? What's the normal weight and height?How big were the historic greats?

Fred, after the reflexes and hand-eye coordination allow the batter to hit the ball, it is the bat speed that determines how fast the ball comes off the bat. Bat speed is increased by greater muscle. The faster the ball comes off the bat, the faster it travels, and, if hit at the right angle, the farther it will travel. This does not mean that a competitive weightlifter could step up and hit homes runs; generally speaking, he hasn't learned how to hit major league pitching. But if he would learn that, you couldn't pay me enough to be the pitcher standing about 50' away from him when he swings.

Steroids have helped various runners, wrestlers, weightlifters, football players, and baseball players. While not all steroids are the same, some of the benefits include faster healing/recovery time after workouts or injuries, increased muscle mass, and decreased body fat (which may come as a result of the ability to work out harder and more often). There are many negative side affects, too, enough that no major sports league is willing to open propose their use.