Opening day

Usually, opening day is a carefree, joyous occasion for me. Who the Indians are playing is secondary. I'm just happy baseball is back and will be part of my everyday life for the next six-plus months.
But I'll be honest with you. This opening day has my stomach churning a bit.
Tonight's first game is against the White Sox. Right off the bat, the Indians are going to receive a litmus test. Right off the bat, we are going to see if the Indians have what it takes to challenge the world champs to be the alpha dog in the division.
The tale of the tape will build quickly. The first series, the first week, the first month. By May 1, we are going to know a lot about what the Indians are made of.
And if they are digging out of a huge hole like last year, it won't be pretty.
Opinions on the 2006 Indians are sharply divided among both fans and the media. Some are fully convinced this is the year the Indians make their move and re-assert themselves as a contender. As evidence to that end, the Indians finished spring training with a 20-12 record, their first 20-win spring training since 1996.
Some are no less convinced the losses of Kevin Millwood, Scott Elarton and Bob Howry, and the trade of Coco Crisp, have sharply downgraded this team, and they won't even sniff the playoffs this year.
I, personally, see the validity of both arguments, and don't know what to think.
Yes, losing Crisp hurts. But Jason Michaels or Todd Hollandsworth could replace him well enough. But, on the other hand, Michaels has never been a full-time player and Hollandsworth was yanked off the scrap heap this winter.
Paul Byrd is no Millwood. But he's far from a stiff and should contribute double-digit wins ... if he stays healthy.
The bullpen has been torn apart and spackled back together with new parts found on short notice. It could be a success, or it could be a 2004 redux. Tribe relievers were effective and awful in equal parts this spring. We'll soon find out the truth.
But if any part of the team lags, there is hope: Class AAA Buffalo has a large supply of show-ready talent that could potentially step in and help the Indians. Andy Marte, Ryan Garko, Jeremy Sowers, Jason Davis and Fausto Carmona are among the prospects who are a phone call away.
As I have said all along, what the farm system contributes to the big league club will likely go a long way to determining the Indians' level of success this year.
There is no question the Indians have guys at Buffalo who are more talented than some of the guys playing with the big-league club, but the Indians have not deemed them ready for the show. Their organizational hand might be forced depending on how the Indians start the season.
Much has been made of the Indians' last-week collapse that cost them a playoff berth last season. We are led to believe the Indian players have a huge chip on their shoulders that will keep them motivated.
We'll see, beginning tonight, if it's the truth or a bunch of grandstanding. The White Sox owned the Indians last year, going 14-5. They celebrated a division title in Cleveland, Ozzie Guillen made his infamous choke sign as the White Sox swept the Indians on the season's final weekend, and then Chicago went on to win the World Series.
If the Indians can't get up to beat these guys, early and often, we should all start examining manager Eric Wedge and his leadership tactics.