National Baseball League

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Who's the Real Favorite in 1937? Cleveland or San Francisco?

FRANCESA:
I don’t understand why this is even a discussion. I really don’t. Cleveland is projected at one-hundred-and-ten wins. One-ten! You don’t just stumble into that. That’s depth, pitching, lineup balance. San Francisco just had a historical year — those teams regress. They always do.
RUSSO:
Ohhhh stop it, Mike. Stop it. This is what you always do — you fall in love with the numbers and forget the reality of what you’re watching. San Francisco just went 125–37, swept the World Series, scored seventy-one runs in four games, and now you’re tellin’ me they’re suddenly vulnerable?!
FRANCESA:
I’m not saying they’re bad. Don’t twist it. I’m saying Cleveland has the cleaner path. The American League is softer at the top. San Francisco’s gotta go through St. Louis again, Miami’s better, Washington’s annoying — Cleveland cruises.
RUSSO:
Cruises?! Cruises where? Anaheim’s still there! Tampa Bay’s still there! And don’t act like Cleveland hasn’t choked before, Mikey. They’ve been the best team and walked away empty-handed. San Francisco doesn’t blink. They just bury you.
FRANCESA:
You’re romanticizing it. Baseball doesn’t care about mystique. It cares about innings, rotations, margins. Cleveland has more room for error. San Francisco has pressure. Every loss is a headline. That stuff wears on teams.
RUSSO:
Pressure?! They eat pressure! They’ve been in three straight World Series already! You think this is when they get nervous? This isn’t a cute run anymore — this is a machine. They don’t play close games, Mike. They don’t let you breathe!
FRANCESA:
And that’s exactly why it ends. History says it ends. Nobody three-peats except the ’21–’23 Mets. Cleveland doesn’t need history — they need four rounds of solid baseball. That’s how championships are actually won.
RUSSO:
History ends until it doesn’t! That’s the laziest argument in sports radio! If history mattered, they wouldn’t have gone back-to-back in the first place! San Francisco isn’t chasing Cleveland — Cleveland’s chasing them.
FRANCESA:
I’ll tell you this: if Cleveland gets to October healthy, I trust them more in a seven-game series right now.
RUSSO:
And I’ll tell you this: until somebody actually knocks the Giants out, I’m not betting against the team that just turned the World Series into batting practice. You wanna be the guy fading the 125-win champs? Be my guest!
FRANCESA (dryly):
We’ll see in October.
RUSSO:
We always do, Mike. And every year, you’re surprised.

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Colin Cowherd – 1937 Preseason Monologue

“Watch the Yankees”
Everybody’s laughing at the Yankees again. Last place last year, last place projections, new manager nobody trusts. I get it. The resume doesn’t pop. Greg Campanelli? Anaheim didn’t win with him. Kansas City was a disaster. Hundred losses last year. If you’re just reading the back of the baseball card, you’re out.
But here’s the thing — fit matters more than history.
I’m hearing the same thing from three different people: the players are buying in. Not politely. Buying in. Campanelli works rooms. He doesn’t bulldoze personalities, but he also doesn’t let talent coast. That’s rare. Especially in New York.
And New York doesn’t need a genius. It needs a grown-up.
This team’s been drifting. Too much waiting around for three-run homers, not enough accountability. Campanelli’s not afraid to bunt. He’s not afraid to hit-and-run. He’s not afraid to tell stars, “You’re not above fundamentals.” And sometimes that’s all a sleeping giant needs — structure.
You know what else I like? Anaheim became a powerhouse after he left. That tells me he didn’t poison the well. He built something. Kansas City? Yeah, ugly. But bad organizations stay bad even when you do things right. That’s not always the manager.
And here’s where I’ll go out on a limb.
Everyone’s penciling in Tampa Bay. Boston’s respectable but capped. The Yankees? They’re supposed to finish last again. That’s the assumption. That’s the blind spot.
Watch out.
I’m not saying World Series. I’m saying relevance. I’m saying competitive games in September. I’m saying this team plays harder than you expect, runs more than you expect, and wins games they “shouldn’t.”
This is my dark horse.
Not to be good.
To surprise you.
And when the Yankees are competent again — even just competent — the league feels it.

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Colin Cowherd – August 5, 1937

“I Was Right… and I Was Wrong”

Okay. I’m gonna start with this — I was right.
And I don’t say that lightly. I say it loudly.
I told you before the season: watch the Yankees. New manager, culture shift, fundamentals, accountability — all the stuff people roll their eyes at. I said playoffs. I said dark horse.
But let me also say this:
I did not see this coming.
Eighty-nine and twenty-seven.
That’s not a surprise team.
That’s a juggernaut.
This isn’t “hanging around.” This isn’t “hot stretch.” This is dominating the American League like it owes them money. Best record in baseball. Nine games clear of Tampa Bay — the same Tampa Bay everyone crowned in March. Cleveland? Anaheim? These were supposed to be the monsters. They still are. But the Yankees are eating them for breakfast.
And here’s what blows my mind: it’s not smoke and mirrors.
They run the bases.
They don’t beat themselves.
They play defense.
They pressure you early.
They pressure you late.
This team is annoying to play — in the best possible way.
Greg Campanelli… listen, I know the resume. Anaheim didn’t win with him. Kansas City was ugly. But this is why I always say context matters. Leadership isn’t universal — it’s situational. And this guy fits New York like a tailored suit.
He didn’t turn them into something flashy.
He turned them into something relentless.
And look around the league — Boston fading, Toronto mediocre, Baltimore stuck, Detroit irrelevant. This division folded. Tampa Bay’s very good! And they’re nine games back!
I said the Yankees would be competitive.
I said they’d matter again.
I did not think we’d be talking about them as the team everyone else is chasing by August.
So yes — I’m taking a victory lap.
But I’m also standing here saying: this is bigger than a prediction.
This is one of those seasons where the sport tilts on its axis.
Because when the Yankees aren’t just good — when they’re this good — everything changes. The postseason changes. The pressure changes. The conversation changes.
And if you’re Cleveland… if you’re Anaheim… if you’re San Francisco looking ahead to October?
You’re not circling anyone else.
You’re circling New York.

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1937 AL Standings

Mike Francesa
“Alright, let’s get real here. The Yankees? One-twenty-three wins? Are you kidding me? That’s a new American League record. I mean, historically, that is monumental. Greg Campanelli, the manager nobody believed in, turned this team into a juggernaut. They’re not just good — they are dominant. Tampa Bay with 112 wins, Cleveland with 117, Anaheim 116 — these are all powerhouse teams, and yet New York finishes ahead of all of them.
This is what makes baseball incredible. Nobody saw this coming. Nobody. And yet it happened. The Yankees get the #1 seed. First-round bye. They’re locked in for October. This is a team playing the kind of baseball that separates legends from pretenders. Minnesota, Detroit, Oakland — get them out of the league, honestly. Total non-factors. And Boston? 78-84, out of the playoffs again. A team on the rise that has fallen back. It’s brutal for fans, but that’s the reality.”

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo
“Ohhhh, you can’t even write this! I told you the Yankees were a real deal! I mean, 123 wins! I’m screaming right now. I’ve been a fan, I’ve been screaming for months, and look at this — the league finally has to acknowledge it. Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Anaheim — great teams, sure, but they all had to play catch-up to this New York team. Catch-up! That’s insane. I don’t care what Francesa says — this is dominance. You cannot ignore it.
And can we just talk about Campanelli? The guy they laughed at in Anaheim, Kansas City? He’s the architect of a record-setting juggernaut. This is exactly what happens when the right leader meets the right clubhouse. They grind, they execute, they play smart, they play aggressive. And now? Wild Card matchups, first-round byes — the Yankees are sitting on the throne. I’m telling you, this is one of those seasons we’re gonna be talking about for decades. This is a dynasty in the making, folks!”

Bob Costas – 1937 AL Wild Card Summary
“As we turn our attention to the American League Wild Card matchups, we see a fascinating set of storylines unfolding.
First, the Texas Rangers (87–75) travel to face the Tampa Bay Rays (112–50) — a rematch of last year’s playoff encounter. Tampa Bay, of course, enters as one of the elite teams in the league, having won 112 games, won the AL Pennant last season but ran into a legendary SF Giants team in the World Series, and firmly established themselves as a powerhouse. Texas, meanwhile, represents the scrappy underdog, a team that found consistency late in the season and earned the right to punch above its weight. History tells us that matchups like this are rarely close, yet the Rangers will look to exploit any moment of Tampa Bay overconfidence.

On the other side of the bracket, we have the Kansas City Royals (80–82) visiting the Anaheim Angels (116–46). Anaheim’s 116 wins put them in elite company — the West’s finest. Kansas City, barely above .500, faces a daunting challenge. But as history reminds us, postseason baseball is often less about regular-season dominance and more about timing, momentum, and the occasional breakout performance. Any team that makes it to October carries hope, and Kansas City will rely on that hope, along with tactical ingenuity, to compete against the Angels’ overwhelming firepower.
Taken together, these Wild Card games set the stage for the American League playoffs. Tampa Bay and Anaheim are the favorites, no question, yet Texas and Kansas City arrive with nothing to lose, everything to prove, and the kind of unpredictability that defines October baseball. It promises to be a thrilling, high-stakes opening round. These are also Campanelli's former teams, and the Royals sneak into the playoffs the year after he left.”

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1937 NL Standings

Bob Costas – 1937 NL Standings & Wild Card Summary

“As we close out the National League regular season, a few stories immediately stand out.

First, the Miami Marlins have quietly emerged as one of the most surprising stories of the year, winning 97 games to capture the NL East. Miami’s consistent play and balance across pitching and hitting allowed them to outperform expectations. The New York Mets, despite an 83-win season and notable improvements, once again fall short of the postseason.

Meanwhile, Washington, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Arizona struggled, with the Diamondbacks’ 56-win campaign confirming that the days of their championship teams are firmly in the rearview mirror.

In the Central, the St. Louis Cardinals have matched their win total from last season, finishing 109–53 and claiming the #1 seed in the National League. A model of consistency and sustained excellence, St. Louis is again poised for a deep playoff run. The Cincinnati Reds, at 86–76, earned the Wild Card spot but will face a formidable challenge on the road.

Out West, the San Francisco Giants experienced a slight regression from last year’s historic 125-win season, finishing 107–55. Still, this is a team that any contender fears — capable of high-octane offense, dominant pitching, and experience in the postseason. The Padres, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1930 with a 96–66 record, provide an interesting twist to the Wild Card matchups. The Colorado Rockies, at 92 wins, round out the playoff field and are eager to make noise.

The Wild Card matchups are particularly compelling:

Colorado Rockies (92–70) at San Diego Padres (96–66)
San Diego returns to October for the first time in seven years, and they’ll enjoy the home-field advantage. But Colorado, despite the underdog label, is battle-tested and capable of an upset.

Cincinnati Reds (86–76) at Miami Marlins (97–65)
Miami, having outperformed expectations all season, will host Cincinnati with confidence. Yet as always in October, momentum and timely performances can level the playing field.

In sum, the National League playoffs this year are a blend of expected excellence and potential surprises. St. Louis and San Francisco enjoy first-round byes, giving them rest and strategic advantages. Meanwhile, Miami and San Diego — along with Colorado and Cincinnati — offer a reminder that in postseason baseball, the Wild Card round often shapes the storylines for October.

The stage is set: veterans versus emerging contenders, powerhouses versus hungry challengers, and the usual unpredictability that defines Major League Baseball at its finest.”

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J. Peterman – Game Recap: Reds at Marlins, 09/28/1937
Ah, Miami. The sun hanging low over LoanDepot Park, warm enough to remind you of beaches you’ll never quite touch, clear skies, a slight wind from the right — 13 miles per hour, enough to flirt with a baseball’s path, but not enough to dictate it. It was here, in this ephemeral theater of baseball, that the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins performed a brief symphony of human ambition.
The Reds arrived like travelers with heavy suitcases, carrying 86 wins, modest hopes, and dreams of upsetting the local giants. And yet, they were met by Antonio Sanchez. Two home runs, four RBI, two runs scored — a shortstop from Cúcuta, Colombia, whose swing seemed choreographed by the sun itself. In the bottom of the sixth, with Miami trailing 4-3, Sanchez hit a three-run homer that seemed less like a play and more like inevitability.
The Reds tried. P. Joseph stole a base. D. Kendrick tripled. E. Irrizarry hit for power and speed, a two-out RBI adding tension to a narrative only partially written. But the Marlins had a rhythm, a heartbeat. J. King, J. Hodge, and A. Coronado — pitchers in a delicate ballet — kept the Reds off balance, turning potential into memories, one inning at a time.
In the end, it was 8-5, Miami. The crowd, 52,254 strong, exhaled in relief, awe, and wonder. Cincinnati left the field not defeated, but humbled, touched by something larger than a scoreboard. And for those who watched closely, who felt the day in their veins, this was a reminder that baseball is never just a game. It is narrative, drama, and fleeting beauty stitched together with leather and wood.
Tomorrow promises another chapter, another opportunity for heroes to emerge, for underdogs to falter, for the story to bend in unexpected ways. But today belonged to Antonio Sanchez, and in that, Miami, in the glow of a September sun, briefly became eternal.

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Michael Scott – Rockies at Padres, 09/28/1937
“Okay everyone, listen up, because this is HUGE. Huge. Like… Scranton branch huge. The San Diego Padres… they just beat the Colorado Rockies 10 to 6 in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. And guess who the hero is? Jared Qualls. That’s right. Qualls. 3-for-4, a home run, a triple, 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs. He basically did what I do every day: take charge, make people notice, and look really, really good doing it.
And then there’s Ben Callender. I mean, come on. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, one out, he smacks a three-run homer. That’s clutch. That’s also… kinda like if I were on the field and hit a home run. Only, you know, way better than me.
Colorado? Nice effort. They scored six runs. They tried. They had singles, doubles, stolen bases… but you know what? Padres just said, ‘Nope.’ Like Dwight says to Jim, ‘Nope, not today.’ And that’s basically the game in a nutshell. Padres are the Dwight Schrute of the Wild Card: strong, relentless, and slightly terrifying.
Attendance was 34,695. That’s a lot of people. And weather? Clear, 72 degrees, wind blowing out to right at 8 mph. Perfect baseball weather. I mean, honestly, if the sun were any brighter, it would have been reflecting off my smile watching this game.
So Game 1? Padres win. Rockies? They’ll try again tomorrow. But let me tell you… if the Padres keep playing like this, it’s World Series or bust, baby. And that’s what she said.”