Coming off a weekend split at Yale and Brown, during which Columbia tried to outslug its opposition, the Lions’ record stands at 4-4—first place in the Gehrig Division by two games over both Princeton and Cornell.
Having won its first Ivy League title in quite some time last year, expectations were enormous for the Lions this season, despite the team losing key players. But, eight games into Ivy competition, the chance that the Lions will fulfill those expectations looks very dicey.
While the Lions are in first place in their division, the Gehrig clubs (Princeton, Cornell and Penn) have proven to be inferior to the teams in the Rolfe Division. Every team in the Rolfe Division is above .500, including Dartmouth, which has yet to lose a game, and Brown—a team that Columbia lost two heartbreakers to this weekend—who has a conference record of 7-1.
In order to repeat as Ivy League champions (in addition to Gehrig League champs), Columbia must improve in a number of categories. Last season, behind an experienced pitching staff, the Light Blue was able to outpitch a number of Ivy League teams. Columbia lost three starting pitchers (Henry Perkins, John Baumann and Bill Purdy) who combined for 23 starts and seven wins.
This year, the Lions have relied on three starters in Joe Scarlata, Dan Bracey and Geoff Whitaker. Each has showed glimpses of solid stuff, but each has an earned run average above 5.8—rather shocking given that they are the aces of the staff. The team’s combined ERA has ballooned from 6.35 last season to 7.26 this year.
The main reason behind this increase is that the Columbia pitchers have allowed for more baserunners, increasing the teams’ walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP). Last season, the team had a very impressive 1.27 WHIP, but this year it has increased to 1.78, while the team’s strikeout to walk ratio has decreased. Last season’s starters pitched to contact, forcing the fielders to make the plays, but, this season, the pitchers have seemed to try and take the game into their own hands.
With the pitching struggling thus far, the Lions have had to rely on hitting to try to outscore their opponents. But every offensive statistic, except for home runs, has decreased this season. While Columbia has demonstrated more power (with five players having two home runs), it has become less patient at the
plate.
Losing Perkins and Noah Cooper to graduation and Jason Banos due to injury has really hurt the Lions at the top of the order. All three players had outstanding eyes at the plate, which rubbed off on the rest of the club. Last season’s squad had a .356 on-base percentage, which allowed the team’s speed to really shine.
Since the club has struggled to get on base so far this season (a .340 OBP), it has not been able to attempt many steals. Led by reigning Ivy Rookie of the Year Nick Cox’s 13 stolen bases, the Lions have stolen 33 of 46 bases. Comparatively, last season’s club stole 95 bases in 119 attempts, which allowed the team to manufacture more runs to make up for its lack of power.
In order to win between 10 and 12 games in the League, which would probably be more than enough to win the Gehrig Division, the starters must improve their accuracy and allow the defense to make the plays. If they adjust this, I would not be surprised if Columbia could contend with Dartmouth or Brown for the Ivy championship.
Max Puro is a Columbia College senior majoring in history.
Sports@columbiaspectator.com