Orlando Hudson has always had a gift for the gab and his Minnesota Twins teammates couldn't help but know that he was marking his first return to Toronto since the Blue Jays unloaded him back in 2005.
"He told us they had a parade for him this morning," Minnesota slugger Justin Morneau said on Monday before the Twins took to the field against the Jays at Rogers Centre. "I missed it I guess."
You can bet that Hudson also had lots to say after the contest as the Twins (24-14) took advantage of some shoddy Toronto defence to record an 8-3 victory in the first of a two-game mini-series.
Morneau, the native of New Westminster, B.C., who entered the game as the American League's top hitter with a .362 batting average, walloped two home runs and drove in four of the Minnesota runs.
The loss for the Jays (23-17) snapped a four-game win streak while the Twins won for the second consecutive outing to maintain their grip atop the A.L. Central standing.
Hudson began his Major League career in Toronto in 2002 and played three full years before he was traded by former Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi following the 2005 season to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Although the Blue Jays received slugging third baseman Troy Glaus in return, Hudson had endeared himself as a fan favourite by his energetic play at second and his ceaseless chatter.
There was a feeling Ricciardi and Hudson never really hit it off stemming back to the spring in 2002 when Hudson was his usual candid self when he was asked about the new Toronto GM.
"When I first met J.P. I thought, 'Smooth cat - smooth lookin' cat," Hudson said. "He looks like he was a pimp in his day. He's a good dude."
Shortly afterward, Hudson was packing his bag for Triple-A in Syracuse.
"I started my career here so it's cool, man," Hudson said before last night's game. "It's good to be back, see some of the old guys, get some big, old hugs, laugh a little bit."
Hudson was asked if he was upset that Ricciardi, who was fired by the Blue Jays over the final weekend of the regular season last year, was not around to exchange an embrace or two.
"Haaa," Hudson snorted. "Don't get me started, man. I ain't trying to burn no bridges around that man. I'm going to have no comment on that. That could ruin my career.
"My Mom always said if you don't got something nice to say don't say nuthin.'"
The Blue Jays, on the strength of a Jose Bautista home run blast, led 2-1 heading into the fourth, where the game fell apart for Toronto with Minnesota putting four runs up on the board.
Lyle Overbay, the Blue Jays first baseman who already had been handcuffed earlier in the game by a couple of hard-hit balls, was victimized again.
The Twins had already scored twice in the inning for a 3-2 lead and were threatening more with runners at first and third.
Minnesota's Michael Cuddyer grounded to short and would have been the third out at first had Overbay not dropped the relay for an error, allowing Mauer to cross with the Twins' fourth run.
Overbay then compounded his misery when he scooped up the loose ball and attempted to throw Morneau out at third.
His hurried throw, however, was off the mark and the ball rolled into foul territory for another error and Morneau was allowed to trot home for the inning's second unearned run that put Minnesota ahead 5-2.