Winning the final game, eliminating your opponent, can be an excruciating experience for any team.

Today, the A’s need to battle through the memory of being 0-4 in games where they had a chance to close out the opposition in a division series.

Last year the Yankees fought off three “I’ll see you later” games, coming back from an 0-2 deficit to beat the A’s in 5.

Game four is the second pivotal game in a five game series (game two was the other).

Either you go home or clinch, those are the options for the two teams, depending on which side you are looking from.

The Angels can clinch, the Yankees are fighting for a game five. The A’s can move on, the Twins want to come to Oakland for game 5.

Arizona fights to keep the series going against St. Louis, while the Cards don’t want to see Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling anymore this year.

Here’s how I see it.The A’s will be in a dog fight today. Tim Hudson was not sharp in the opener Tuesday. Hudson will need to limit the damage because Eric Milton is a lefthander and capable of keeping the game close.

Hudson has never lost to Minnesota and pitches exrtremely well indoors.

The big question is who will follow Hudson to the mound. Since the righty is going on three days rest, it is unlikely that he will pitch much past the sixth or seventh inning.

Lefties are especially valuable against Minnesota. Ricardo Rincon pitched two innings Friday. Is he ready today? Is Ted Lilly back in the picture? Will Art Howe trust Micah Bowie if a lefty is needed?

Will the A’s play more righties against Milton, thus putting more pressure on the lefty?

Will the Twins crowd be any factor?

Barry Zito did not have his “A Game” yesterday. He threw 114 pitches in 6 tough innings. He works hard each time out, throwing a true curve ball with tremendous torque. He showed why he pitched game three and not one of the first two games.

Zito could not come back on three days rest as quickly as Mulder and Hudson. His game yesterday emphatically demonstrated the point.

Today is no slam dunk for the A’s, but their lesson of last year is very clear in their mind. Get it done now, no one needs a fifth game, I don’t care where it would be played.

The Angels are hitting. No surprise. The eye opener is how old the Yankees pitching looks. Anaheim has clubbed lefties all year long. David Wells was knocked out in August in Anaheim when his back was not right.

Jarrod Washburn pitched a gem against the A’s on three days rest.

Can Anaheim finish the Yanks? They better because game five is in Yankee Stadium tomorrow, if needed.

Alfonso Soriano has struggled, Jason Giambi and Derek Jeter are hitting well. The Angels are loose and hit with much more consistency throughout their order.

Unless Wells is on his game without many mistakes, this will be one tough game for the New Yorkers.

Putting the final nail in the coffin is not easy whenever the Yankees are involved. Today will be no different.

The Giants are happy to be home. Jason Schmidt has pitched beautifully all year in Pac Bell. The Braves are in for a tough game today. Greg Maddux will not go the distance, the Braves bull pen will tell the story of this game.

The Giants play well at home, they need the park factor today because Atlanta is on a mission to erase the ghosts of past post season failures.

St. Louis knows what is on the horizon if they lose today. Johnson and Schilling. Arizona hasn’t hit for two months, it shouldn’t be much different today against Andy Benes (yes, that Andy Benes, he’s back big time).

Arizona is world champion, they will not go easy either.

Game four is a unique game because of the consequences for the loser.

Today there will be comebacks and surprises, you can count on it.