It’s starting to hit me. That we won’t see Mo pitch again. Small pangs at random times, but it’s sinking in. His playing career is over.

In this article about Rivera over at Broken LeaguesI was impressed with the picture by PJ McQuade.

Stephen Rodrick profiles Robert Redford in Men’s Journal. Redford is supposed to be wonderful in the new movie, All is Lost:

It’s hard to watch “All Is Lost” and not focus on Redford’s mortality – or, hell, your own mortality. It’s the type of unvarnished role his advisers had been urging him to take for years, but he’d become encased in his own dilemma. He’d spent his entire career rebelling against just being another good-looking guy but only partially leaving his comfort zone. Every film Redford has been involved in for the past half-century has him playing a hero; it might be subverting the cliché – like in ‘The Candidate’ – but it’s still the hero. In ‘All Is Lost,’ Redford doesn’t play a hero; just an old man trying to survive.

Robert Redford turned 77 a few weeks before Telluride. He still carves turns on his own mountain, but it is now easier for J.C. Chandor to raise money for his next film than it is for Redford. In a grand irony, the actor’s next role is the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the sequel to Captain America, the type of blockbuster that led Redford to flee Hollywood for Sundance.

“This is the new deal,” Redford explains. “This is the way the film business is going, with high-tech, high-budget, high things. So many parts of it were not recognizable to me. I thought it’d be interesting to have the experience.”

While he now claims he’s trying harder to stay in touch with his past, there is little evidence. I mention that I’d recently interviewed James Salter, a former Redford confidant who wrote ‘Downhill Racer.’ His face lights up. “I’ve read his new book twice. My daughter asked me who from my past I’d like to reconnect with, and I said ‘Salter.’ ” What is left unsaid is that he never called him.

Photograph by Tim Walker via MPD.

Welcome back for another round of Where & When, the geography detective game that’s keeping your brain warm for the impending Hot Stove season. Or at least that’s the intention; the more you play this, the more exercise your mind gets and hey, the smarter you become! Plus, you get to brag to your buddies that you know something about the city that they probably don’t; if nothing else, it cuts down your chances of getting mugged >;)

Speaking of challenges, here is the latest:

This place was within the five boroughs until recently. It had been around for quite a long time, and unfortunately it was in this condition for a considerably long time as well.  If you know what the name of this building is and where it’s located, then tell us also when it was built, when it first opened for business and when it was closed for good. Bonus if you find a picture of when it was pristine and intact.

Send your best guesses to cixposse at gmail dot com.  Alert me on the thread that you’ve sent in your guess and I will verify; as per rules of the game, do not click on the photo credit to find the answer. You’re welcome to discuss any aspects of the challenge, including your tracking methods or knowledge of the general area, without giving away the answer (so be discreet if you can).  Above competition, this is also a general place to discuss what you know or learned, so feel free to discuss either.  I’ll try to get back with the answer in the evening around six EST.

A Sea Dog for you if you can find all the answers requested first, and a Jones for those who follow.  Don’t burst a vessel over this, since I’m asking for a lot of specific info it might take some time to track it all down.  Take your time and have fun!

[Photo Credit: Nathan Kensinger ]

Jam it on the One.

The Wife and I stopped in to a charming new Belgian spot on the Upper East Side last weekend. They serve special little meringues. The Wife took a picture. Spot is worth dropping in on for a treat if you’re in that neighborhood.

But it’s knocking at the door for the Dodgers today.

Hate to say it but I think the Cards will end their season while the Red Sox take a 3-1 lead against the Tigers.

[Photo Via: The Minimalisto]

Oven-roasted tomatoes. 

Via Ego Trip: Wonder Wrote It.

Couple of posts on Plato’s Retreat: One from the Afflictor; another from Ephemeral New York.

The Kirk Gibson home run turned 25 yesterday. I don’t have anything to add.  Watch it for yourself.

“Incoming Tide” by Winslow Homer (1883)

Sir Charles.

Couple of games today. First, the Red Sox will beat Justin Verlander in Detroit. Later, the Cards will take a 3-1 NLCS lead in Los Angeles.

Least that’s how I see it.

Never mind me: Let’s Go Base-ball!

Grand Groove.

Homemade Snickers? Well, why not? Not Without Salt gets busy.

I remember liking this guy when I was in college. Over-the-top but seemed Boss when I was 21. Saw this show a couple of times with my pals when it was down on 2nd Avenue.

“After a Thunderstorm,” By Arkhip Kuindzhi (1879)

Krazy Kat turns 100.

Benjamin Hoffman on David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez and clutch hitting.

[Photo Credit: Jeff Curry/ USA TODAY Sports]