First Call: Could Clint Frazier-to-Pirates talk heat back up?; analyst picks Bills over Patriots

Thursday’s “First Call” includes a Penn State alum making a crazy NFL pick. A Penn State commit staying true to State College. And a reason why the Yankees may be shopping Clint Frazier to the Pirates again.

Say what?!

NFL Network analyst — and Penn State product — Michael Robinson may have made the most outrageous prediction of the NFL preseason.

On “Good Morning Football,” Robinson was asked who has the best chance of dethroning the New England Patriots as the AFC East champs.

Not only did Robinson say the Buffalo Bills, but he took it a step beyond that.

Mark it down.

On this day, June 3rd 2019, @RealMikeRob has the @BuffaloBills winning the AFC East in 2019. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/xnn1Bm1jrs

— GMFB (@gmfb) June 3, 2019

He flat out stated that the Bills would win the East!

How is that going to happen? Are the Patriots moving to a different division? Are they swapping places with the Browns in the North?

The Bills went 6-10 last year, so I can see where Robinson is coming from in the sense that Buffalo may finish second.

But unseating New England this year? Please. I know Rob Gronkowski retired. But did Tom Brady? Or Bill Belichick?

I must’ve missed those stories.

Is Frazier fried?

As rumors pick up that teams may consider trading for Starling Marte, it lends a little bit more credence to that New York Post story last month that the Pirates may have a renewed interest in Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier.

He apparently was part of trade talks when the Pirates considered sending Gerrit Cole to the Yankees instead of Houston.

But Frazier is still in New York. And the Big Apple appears to be wearing on him.

According to NJ.com, Frazier is having some issues with the New York media. It appears Frazier didn’t answer questions from the press after a bad game in the field against the Red Sox on Sunday.

The reason why, according to Frazier, is that he feels he has been unfairly treated at times.

“I don’t think I owe anyone an explanation because it’s not a rule that I have to speak,” Frazier said. “I know that it came out that I was ducking the media, but that was not what I am trying to do. I have owned up to my mistakes in the past, saying that it shouldn’t happen. You know, since I got traded over here, it’s been some stories that shouldn’t have come out that have come out. And it’s difficult because the way I am perceived by people is not how I think I really am.”

Well, if he wants a lack of attention from the media, come to Pittsburgh once football and hockey overlap with baseball. He won’t have to worry.

While you’re at it

One of those remaining big-name free agent pitchers finally appears to have a job.

In the National League Central.

Craig Kimbrel reportedly is going to the Cubs for $43 million over three years.

BREAKING: Kimbrel's got a new hat.

(via @Ken_Rosenthal) pic.twitter.com/fBVUq1JImI

— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 6, 2019

Nice artwork, there. Do you have a black crayon, a gold crayon and a picture of Dallas Keuchel?

Nice touch

The Toronto Blue Jays drafted Braden Halladay in the 32nd round of the MLB draft.

He’s a Penn State commit and the son of late Hall of Famer Roy Halladay.

The younger Halladay says he intends to keep his pledge to play baseball with the Nittany Lions.

Thank you @BlueJays for drafting me in the 32nd round today! It’s a great honor! It’s with mutual understanding that I’ll still be honoring my commitment to Penn State! I look forward to college and bettering myself as a player and person, thank you to all who have supported me! pic.twitter.com/tUcKWZESPl

— Braden Halladay (@BradenHalladay) June 5, 2019

Roy Halladay began his career as a first-round draft choice in Toronto before moving to Philadelphia.

He won the Cy Young in both leagues, retired in 2013 and died in a plane crash in 2017.

Braden is a right-handed pitcher out of Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, Fla.

The Blue Jays already boast the sons of two other Hall of Famers, Vladimir Guerrero (Vlad Jr.) and Craig Biggio (Cavan).

Smooth move

Toronto Raptors suggested this Eastern Conference Finals photo of Kawhi Leonard dunking on Giannis Antetokounmpo should be hung in the Louvre.

Well, some Raptors fan went to Paris and decided that was a good idea.

She hung the Kawhi poster with the classics in the Louvre

(via athinavandame/IG) pic.twitter.com/4N81IUpjf6

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 4, 2019

That must’ve been good luck. Toronto took a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals on Wednesday, beating Golden State, 123-109. Leonard had 30 points. That was his 13th game of 30 points or more in the playoffs.