Vengeful Wells might not be enough for Sox.(Chicago Tribune)

CLEVELAND_He is to Cleveland what John Elway and Ted Stepien were. He is the city's new worst nightmare, 250 pounds of left-handed, wild-bearded revenge. He is 17-4 lifetime against the Indians, and this season they must look into his cold-blooded eyes five or six times.

Now David Wells is the lead singer for the White Sox, who play 19 games against division rival Cleveland, beginning Monday at Jacobs Field. No longer do the Sox need surprise to be their ace against the team that had won the Central five straight times. No longer must they steal the race in April, May and June as they did in 2000. No more doubts about belonging in the playoffs.

They now have as tough-minded a high-stakes pitcher as there is. And he's itching to pitch on an Opening Day with a forecast of flurries. The Jake turns Wells into LaMotta, a raging bull.

Wells says a few Indians fans once stooped to hurling insults about his mother, who had recently died. This was in the bullpen before Game 5 of the 1998 ALCS. He says other fans joined in. The Yankees scored three in the first, but Wells allowed two. He says he had to talk himself down off the ledge. He regained control, lasted into the eighth and allowed only one more run. The Yankees won 5-3. A pox on this house, vowed Wells.

Now this heavy-metal freak might not forgive and forget until this city puts him in its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Could he still be that bitter over the taunts of a few beer brains? Or does he dredge up the rage to drive himself? Whatever, Wells gives the Sox the head-to-head edge over Cleveland. If they make the playoffs, another Wells grudge could put them over the top against the Yankees.

He burns to get even with George Steinbrenner for trading him out of the city and pinstripes he loved. Sox in the World Series? If they make the playoffs, I wouldn't bet against it.

My problem is figuring out how they'll make the playoffs. If you could guarantee Wells, Cal Eldred and James Baldwin would stay healthy and sharp most of the season, fine, print playoff tickets. But Wells is a 37-year-old fighting double jeopardy, back and weight problems. Eldred had an unexpected career-best stretch last season before winding up with a screw in his arm. Baldwin went from the doghouse to the All-Star team before having off-season surgery that could keep him out through April.