The Scream Recovered

Good news from Oslo - Edward Munch's masterpiece The Scream has been recovered. There is also good news from Boston as the Red Sox have finally won a game.

It was just over 2-years ago that The Scream was stolen and it was just under 2-years ago that the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years. Many fans of Munch were depressed at the thought that the masterpiece would never be recovered while many fans of the Red Sox thought that the new found good times would last forever while also proclaiming at least a 5-year grace period in complaining about the team (hello Bill Simmons).

What a difference 2-years makes.

This morning the Red Sox stand 8 games behind the Yankees in the AL East and 6.5 games back of the White Sox for the AL Wildcard. In case Red Sox fans haven't gotten the message that the BoSox are out of it - GM Theo Epstein sent even the most optimistic member of Red Sox Nation a reality check by trading pitcher David Wells to the Padres. The Red Sox will supposedly get prospect catcher George Kottaras in the deal. This is another message to the faithful that the season is over (if the Sox thought they were still in it they at least would have traded for someone who could help the big league club today).

One thing that kinda bugged me in that ESPN story linked above was the last paragraph:

The Padres signed right-handed reliever Rudy Seanez, who's making his fourth career stop in San Diego. He was designated for assignment by Boston on Aug. 19.

Seanez was signed by the Red Sox in the offseason. Along with Julian Tavarez - Seanez was supposed to anchor the Red Sox bullpen (and I guess he was a sort of anchor to the team but not in the good sense). It was down to the Padres and Red Sox last offseason for Seanez's services. The Red Sox won out but now Seanez will be playing for the Padres basically for free and I can almost guarantee that he will be great for the rest of the season.

The Padres have really helped themselves with the acquisition of Wells and the signing of Seanez. However, they are 3 games back of the Dodgers and personally I'll be rooting for the West Coast Red Sox (aka Dodgers) to win the NL West. I will be rooting for David Wells though. In his time in Boston I've come to really like him.

Wells is one of the best big game pitchers in baseball history. He owns a 10-4 post season record with a 3.15 ERA. Last year he was the lone pitching highlight in the Red Sox playoff disaster against the White Sox. Good luck and Godspeed Boomer.