I'd put more probability on the juicing except:
1) His body didn't undergo sizable, significant noticeable changes. You can't hide that shit. If you look at Bonds, McGwire, Canseco or any of the other usual suspects, their bodies either went through a second puberty or they had outside chemical help. Bags stayed in about the same shape virtually his entire career.
2) The home field for his AA Red Sox team was larger than average by quite a bit. Dude could've hit another 10 per year if he was playing somewhere more friendly.
3) His hitting coach was
really fucking good, like hitting coach Jesus good.
Prior to the 1995 season, Jaramillo was named as the Texas Rangers' major league hitting coach. From 1996 through the end of the 2004 season, the Texas Rangers ranked in the top five in the American League in team batting average, runs scored, slugging percentage, home runs, and hits. In 1999, the Texas Rangers led all of Major League Baseball in hits, slugging percentage, and team batting average(.293 for the season). In 2005, the Rangers hit 260 home runs: the second-highest total in Major League history. In 2008, the Rangers were first in both runs scored (901), hits (1619), and home runs (194). During his time with Texas, his hitters have won 17 Silver Slugger Awards, four MVP Awards, three home run titles, two RBI championships and a batting title. Jaramillo also guided the Rangers to 13-consecutive seasons in which the offense recorded more than 800 runs scored, the longest streak by any major league team since the New York Yankees accomplished the feat in 17-straight seasons from 1926-42.
Is there a chance he's a 'roider? Sure. I simply find that scenario less likely than a mechanical adjustment and natural hitting discipline.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."