Mark of Fridays: Mommy and me

At the Pink Ribbon Run last weekend.

Great grandma and Uncle Josh got first-place medals!

Mark would have won his age group but he was disqualified for being overly cute.

Mark of Fridays: (Fall is) slip sliding away

We almost went with another pumpkin picture, but figured it was time to break the streak!

Mark of Fridays: Pumpkin power!

Notice a theme?

It's fall!

Baseball playoffs 2010: Round II

Well, in the Division Series, Matt got two of four right. He had the Yankees and the Phillies, but got stung by the Rangers and Giants. The Rays bats never really came to life (which was a surprise) and the Giants pitching was better than just fine (not surprising). The first round was full of great, great games.

So what's ahead in the League Championship round?

On paper: even better match ups. And much more difficult to predict.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers

Matt's prediction: Yankees in five.

Predictable story lines: Experience of the Yankees vs. winning-is-new Rangers. Will Josh Hamilton and Ron Washington's sponsors get good seats? Is Cliff Lee going to throw six complete games or seven? Yankee tradition of excellence, blah, blah, blah.

Comment: Really? One of these teams will be playing in the World Series? It's hard to believe these are the two best teams in the American League. But they certainly were the best in the first round. Despite the prediction of a five-game series, these teams are actually pretty evenly matched. Both have one dominant pitcher followed by a question-mark rotation. Both have big offenses. These could all be great, 12-11 games. The Yankees are going to win because they have a great offense and Mariano Rivera. He's still the best. Plus, the Rangers are really hurt by Cliff Lee not being able to pitch game one. He may only get one game.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Matt's prediction: Giants in seven.
Predictable story lines: Experience of the Phillies vs. the Giants youth. Will Halladay and Lincecum throw perfect games against each other? The over/under on total runs scored is 8.

Comment: Let's go with the upset. Experience is often overrated. In the first round, the Giants proved they weren't intimidated by the big stage. And the Giants have Lincecum and Cain going at least four games. This has all the makings of a monster, classic series. So why the Giants? Brian Wilson, Cain and Bumgarner. (Lincecum and Halladay are a wash?)

So, Yankees and Giants in the Series, just like 1962. Somebody get Ralph Terry, Stretch McCovet and Bobby Richardson on the phone.

And while Matt was only correct on half the first-round series, it should be noted: that's much better than last year and .500 would have led either league in batting.

Bonus Mark: Our Little Pumpkin

Happy Fall, everyone!

Mark of Fridays: Birthday party

And now, after a brief delay, here are the pictures of Mark's first birthday! It was lots of fun!

For the record, Mark did not eat any of his cake. He still has a serious aversion to solid food. And although cake is a marginal solid at best, he wanted almost nothing to do with it.

On the left, you'll notice the face that he made when people tried to force him to eat. The picture on the right is his hand signal for "all done." This kid doesn't even like frosting?

Can't-miss picks

Last year, Matt watched a ton of baseball games on TV, so his picks for the playoffs were right on: he got two series right.
The year before that, Matt went to a bunch of baseball games and saw almost all the playoff teams in person. And his picks were even worse.
So, this year - when Matt watched less baseball than he has in ages -his picks are sure to be a little more right. It only follows.
Here be Matt's Playoff Picks Sure To Go Wrong.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees
Matt's prediction: Yankees in four
Predictable storylines: Big market vs. small market; Twins can't win in postseason; Yankees playing with heavy hearts after Steinbrenner and Sheppard die; Will games be snowed out?
Comment: With all his heart, Matt will be rooting for the Twins. And they actually have a decent match-up. The Yankees are a very good (, very evil) team. But, as everyone is saying, their pitching is suspect past C.C. Sabathia. So, the key for the Twins might be game one. Beat Sabathia there and they may just have a shot at this thing. But, realistically, Hughes and Pettitte are still pretty good pitchers and the Twins aren't exactly throwing Santana and Blyleven out there. (That's the best Twins pitchers I could think of.) The Twins just need too many people to have career series to beat the All That Is Evils. Without Morneau...head trumps heart.

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Matt's prediction: Rays is four
Predictable storylines: No one comes to Rays games so they might move; Cliff Lee likes to throw complete games; Rangers re-birth; Should Nolan Ryan pitch game two?; If Rangers win, will Josh Hamilton have to babysit Ron Washington?
Comment: On paper, this is a really intriguing series. It's tempting to say that Cliff Lee will be the tipping point for this series. Theoretically, this guy can just throw five complete games, if necessary. Josh Hamilton is back and the Rangers are an extremely potent lineup. But, David Price is awesome and so is Even Longoria, even on 12 days rest. Let's go with Joe Maddon and experience.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds
Matt's prediction: Phillies in three
Predictable storylines: Roy Halladay is finally in the postseason; Upstart Reds vs. veteran Phillies; Aroldis Chapman may kill a player with a thrown ball; Who will run into Darren Baker?
Comment: OK, nobody's picking the Reds. How could you? If you had a confidence pool the Phillies would have to be your top pick to advance. The Reds don't really have an ace and the Phillies might have three. The Reds have a bunch of young overachievers who are thrilled to be in the playoffs and the Phillies expect to go to the World Series. The Reds have Dusty Baker, the Phils have Roy Halladay. Sorry, Reds.

San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves
Matt's prediction: Braves in five
Predictable storylines: Two favorites for Rookie of the Year go head to head (Heyward and Posey); Lincecum is a freak; Chipper Jones wishes he could play in this series; Will Bobby Cox will be ejected from his last game?
Comment: Nobody's picking the Braves, either. Again, with good reason. The Braves basically snuck into the playoffs, barely losing less games than the Padres did down the stretch. Chipper Jones is out and Jason Heyward is struggling. The Giants have three or four aces. But...the Giants haven't been to the playoffs lately. And if Tim Lincecum gets blown up (which has happened this season) when the lights go on, things might get interesting. Here's betting Bobby Cox has one last trick up his sleeve.

Things to root for:
- If the Giants and Phillies do get through, that will be a heck of a pitching match up in the NLDS.
- Mike Sweeney, Roy Halladay and Michael Young are all making the first playoff appearances. Always nice to see veterans get a taste. Someone like that always seems to make a key play or have a huge series.
- Twins and Giants in the Series. Interesting.
- Always root for Jim Thome/Buzz Lightyear.

Things to root against:
- If the announcers start saying the Yankees are winning despite heavy hearts (because of Steinbrenner dying), that series has full barf potential.
- Yankees and Phillies in the Series. Blah.

Mark of Fridays: Mark at play

This is Lynne's new favorite picture of Mark. She says it looks just like him.