Mullen it over...

I was just thinking…

• The Agganis All-Star Classics just wrapped up a week of games. And, although Mother Nature messed with the schedule (Well, why wouldn’t she? She’s been doing that for the last six months!), the games were all played and well played. It was a chance to see some of the best high school athletes in the region play for the last time as high schoolers, even though they are no longer technically high schoolers. Kudos to all the kids who played and good luck to them as they move on to college or the next phase of their lives.

• Kudos also to the Agganis Foundation for sponsoring the games and for the scholarships it has given to students. To date, the foundation has provided nearly $1.7 million in college scholarships to 911 students.

• Bishop Fenwick’s Sam Rizzo and Swampscott’s Jenny Nasser made some local history this week by becoming the first athletes to play in two Agganis games on the same day. The weather-induced rescheduling forced softball and soccer both to be played on Wednesday. Rizzo and Nasser started in the softball game for the South squad at Fraser Field, then dashed over to Manning Field to finish the soccer game, Nasser for the South and Rizzo for the North. Nasser went 2-0 on Wednesday, while Rizzo went 1-1. (Watch this space next year for the trivia question.)

• I’ve said all along that I think Tom Brady will serve a two-game suspension. I’m reconsidering. Now, I’m convinced he won’t serve anything. I think his appeal will just go on and on and on.

• It’s hard to make 6-feet-6-inch Rob Gronkowski look small. But, if anyone can do that, it would be 6-7 Patriots newcomer Scott Chandler. I got a crick in my neck just talking to him.

• Wednesday didn’t go the way the Dana and Bowden families of Lynn wanted, but it was still a pretty nice week for them. Last weekend, Derek Dana coached the St. Mary’s baseball team to the Division 3 state title, its first since he played for the Spartans when they won back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988. Then his nephew (and sister Stephanie’s son) Ben Bowden helped the Vanderbilt Commodores return to the College World Series in an attempt to defend their title. But, Vanderbilt lost to the Virginia Cavaliers in the decisive third game on Wednesday. Still, a pretty good week.

• In three CWS games, Bowden, a sophomore lefty, went two scoreless innings, giving up three hits with two strikeouts. In all he went 6-1 with two saves and a 2.89 ERA in 26 relief appearances, spanning 37 ⅓ innings this season.The 2013 Lynn English graduate will return to the area to pitch for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League this summer.

• The Red Sox are now officially in trainwreck status. But, at least it’s an historical (as well as hysterical) mess. According to the Elias, before the Sox won on Wednesday, the Orioles had won six straight games this season against the Sox for the first time since 1961, when they won seven. The Sox went 76-86 that year while the O’s went 95-67, finishing third in the division. It was the Sox’ longest losing streak against the O’s since losing eight straight Sept. 23, 1980 - April 13, 1981.

• Let’s play “Jeopardy!”. Answer: He will be 28 on July 9, is signed to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract, but can’t make the roster of one of the worst teams in baseball. Question: Who is Rusney Castillo? (And a good question that is.)

• So, John Lackey is pitching for the National League-leading Cardinals for the major league minimum ($507,500) with a record of 6-4 and a 3.35 ERA, while Joe Kelly and Allen Craig have both been demoted to Pawtucket. How’s that trade working out?

• With Castillo making $10.5 million this year, Kelly at $603,000, and Craig at $5.5 million, the PawSox might have the heftiest payroll in minor league baseball.

• I’ve heard from many people who have called for John Farrell’s firing. And, while I can’t disagree with that, I can’t see how Farrell gets fired before Ben Cherington. And, I don’t see that happening.

• With Dustin Pedroia on the DL, who will be the Sox lone, token All-Star?

• Why eight warm-up pitches?

• Oh, to be Pat Connaughton.

• So, let me get this straight: A smoker can sue a tobacco company after he or she develops lung cancer despite lifelong warnings, but a woman who goes to a baseball game and ends up with a fractured skull, shattered facial bones, and a traumatic brain injury can’t sue the team despite lack of safety measures?

• I love summer. (Anyone who spent any amount of time around me this past winter knows I am not a winter person.) One of the things I’ve really noticed lately is all the old, classic cars that have been taken out of hibernation. A few weekends ago I thought I had stepped into a muscle car movie. If anyone needs to give away a ‘67 red convertible Mustang, my contact info is at the bottom of the page.

• One of my favorite places to go for a run, regardless of the weather, has always been the stretch of ocean along Lynn Shore Drive and Nahant Beach. The views are absolutely beautiful. For me, it’s probably one of the nicest stretches of oceanfront along the East Coast.

• On the other hand, I can’t think of a bigger waste of oceanfront than that along Lynn Harbor. Such a shame.

• God bless Herschel Walker for believing he can still play in the NFL at the age of 53. But, umm, ouch.

• Pet peeve of the week: People who won’t let others get off an elevator before they try to get on.

• With the school year finally – mercifully – over, happy summer to all the kids, teachers and administrators.

Maureen Mullen can be reached atmmullen@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MaureenAMullen.