Flip’s HR/FB rate dropped considerably when he left Cincinnati in 2006. Hasn’t had one above 7.4% since (and he spent half of that season in Cincinnati hitting 9 of his 11 HRs). Cincinnati’s five year regressed park factor is 1.02 (lower than I would have expected); other stadiums that he’s played in since have park factors of 1.05 (Arizona – only 383 PA), 1.01 (Milwaukee), 1.01 (Washington), and .98 (Saint Louis). There’s not much difference between park factors either with the exception of Saint Louis… so that doesn’t provide much insight.

Nevertheless, it obviously doesn’t bode well for a player with below average power to replace line drives with fly balls. I wonder if he has changed his batting stance at all since working with McGwire? I’ve heard that it’s cool to blame the hitting coach in these situations.