162 games of this stuff and one game against the Twinkies to determine if the Sox get the final playoff spot available in Major League Baseball.

This season has truly been the roller coaster ride from hell and it's not over yet.

27 outs, nine innings, one game, mano a mano against those pesky piranahs from Minnesota who don't die from silver bullets, garlic or stakes through the heart.

The advantage may be U.S, Commiskey Park where the Twinkies have played as poorly as the Sox have under the Teflon dome.  I don't think that means a thing today other than the Sox get last bats.  Of course, with the ability to trot out Joe Nathan, the Sox better have this one wrapped up long before that.

Captain Obvious' keys to victory:

• You've owned Nick Blackburn before, own him again.
  
• Score early and often and make them have to score runs in bunches.  Get into their bullpen early. Take away their running game.
  
• Don't make stupid plays on defense (like Gavin Floyd did yesterday.)  The Twinkies take advantage of those things.
• Hold their runners and don't let them run you out of the ballpark.
  
• If you are winning after six, put your best defensive team in the game.
• Hope Dotel and Linebrink can be as effective as they were on Monday.
• Hope John Danks can give you at least six innings.
• Find a way to make Carlos Gomez wish he was anywhere else. Ditto Joe Mauer.  Ditto Justin Morneau.

There, Captain Obvious has spoken.  Sit back and strap it down one more time.