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The Oakland Telegraph
27 October 2024
Twins peaked, as A's retain American League crown
By A. Mazing, things we didn't see coming correspondent
They say the playoffs are a crapshoot. But rarely is this illustrated quite so well as this year. The out of form A's overcame bookmakers' odds-on favourite Minnesota Twins to regain their American League Championship title. They now advance to the World Series where, even more astoundingly, they'll face the 79-83 Cincinnati Reds, who beat Arizona in the National League divisional series and Atlanta in the championship match-up.
For the second time in as many weeks, GM Paulie Beane was left speechless at the post game press conference. After winning the opening two games at Target Field, Oakland were pegged back to 2-2 after the Twins' powerful lineup smashed the ball to all parts. The A's nudged ahead again in the final game at the Coliseum, where fans were handed out free Peter Brand bobbleheads on arrival. They completed the unexpected 4-2 series win with a 5-2 victory which was effectively decided on one swing of the bat, designated hitter Matt Duffy's grand slam in the 6th.
Still drenched from a Navigatorade soaking by team-mates after the final out, Duffy said, "I've been awful all postseason so far, to be honest. 'Duffy the Duffer', the lads had christened me. What comedy geniuses. Bill Williams came up with it, but I guess if your name is William Williams then you need to retain a sense of humour. But one hit later and I'm a hero".
Beane could only muster the comment, "Baseball, eh? Bloody hell!"
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