Burrell vs Ibanez: Streakiness

[Derek Bodner]

I've heard alot about Burrell's great inconsistency, and how Ibanez will bring a more consistent bat.  Burrell's overall production at the end of the year has been remarkably consistent the last 4 years (128, 122, 127, 125 OPS+), but in-season he's been inconsistent.

Right?

Not really.  Attached below is month-by-month OPS for both Burrell and Ibanez for the last 4 years.  Quick overview:

Months below .800 OPS (2005 onward):
Burrell: 4
Ibanez: 11

Months below .700 OPS:
Burrell: 2
Ibanez: 7

Have people making this argument actually looked at Ibanez's May and September this year?
Or his July last year?
He hit .184 with 0 HR over 103 at bats for crying out loud.

Ibanez is NOT more consistent than Burrell, in any regard.  In fact, he may be more inconsistent.
Full data below:
Burrell:
2008:
March: .833
April: 1.136
May: .856
June: .956
July: .973
August: .618
September: .719

2007:
April: .850
May: .770
June: .551
July: 1.332
August: 1.018
September: .827

2006:
April: 1.013
May: .885
June: .826
July: .858
August: .859
September: .874
October: .800

2005:
April: .955
May: .885
June: .862
July: .855
August: .951
September: .882

Ibanez:
2008:
March: .500
April: .839
May: .673
June: .827
July: .916
August: 1.154
September: .593

2007:
April: .645
May: .787
June: .870
July: .503
August: 1.129
September: .983

2006:
April: .850
May: .739
June: 1.109
July: .779
August: .838
September: .943

2005:
April: .841
May: .818
June: .851
July: .804
August: .688
September: .777
October: .556

[Skates]

While I am not a baseball stat junkie, I appreciate when people lay them out for me.  Even before looking at those stats I thought grabbing the older left handed guy for $30 million seemed pretty idiotic.  Any chance we would have even grabbed Ibanez if he didn't come from Gillick's former playground in Seattle.  I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised by the development of Mayberry whom I think might have been a steal in the Golson trade.

[tk76-]

Burrell was the reverse of Willie Green.  the management wanted no part of him regardless of how he performed.  Maybe the managers daughter had a thing for him (sort of like the phote's Green has, but in reverse.)