The biggest series of the season: White Sox at Royals

Here it is. The final stretch. After a horrible series in New York, the Sox head to Kansas City for three, clinging to the division lead by 1.5 games. And then the dreaded Metrodome series.

The Sox aren't winning that Metrodome series. It ain't happening. Something supernatural takes over when the Sox play there. With the way the Twins play there, with the way the Sox collapse there, and with a hostile crowd screaming in their ears, they'll be lucky to take 1 of those 3 games.

So this is it. The series in Kansas City that the Sox MUST win. Anything less than 2 out 3 will be unacceptable. They have to distance themselves now. The Twins have three left in Tampa. I have to imagine the Rays will play them hard, and possibly beat them twice this weekend. Then the Twins are home for the rest of the season. Three against the Sox and three against the Royals. They won't lose more than once in that homestand.

The Sox have to play as hard as they ever have this whole season. They can't let up for a second. The Royals are bad, and the Sox have played them well this season. But this series petrifies me. The reasons:

1.) The Sox have had a terrible September
2.) They're on the road
3.) They Royals have nothing to play for
4.) Buehrle and Floyd are going on short rest Friday and Saturday

Then there's the slight detail about that fight between the two clubs earlier in the season. I have to think the Royals would love nothing more than to get revenge by ruining the Sox's season. They'll be balls to the wall all weekend.

This is why I love and hate baseball at the same time.