I'm sick and tired of hearing about how steroids have made offensive records illegitimate with no mention of the smaller strike zone tainting the records.  Steroids may have a lot less to do with it than you might think.  For example, take a look at Rich Aurilia's 2001 season.  That year he hit 37 home runs (previous high of 22), hit .324 (previous high of .281), had a .941 OPS (previous high of .783) and I could go on and on across the board and there is a dramatic jump in his numbers.  I've never heard anyone say "man, that Rich Aurilia is really juicing".  I think that is safe to say.  So why did Aurilia have a monster 2001 season unlike any other season he ever had?  The answer is because he was batting behind Barry Bonds in the lineup.  That year, Bonds had a .515 OBP!  Translation, he was always on base which forced pitchers to give Aurilia good pitches to hit or in other words made for a smaller strike zone for him.  The fact is Aurilia is a professional hitter and when you give a professional hitter a tiny strike zone he will kill you time and time again.