Blue Jays: Will fans cheer or jeer the return of Edwin Encarnacion?

The Rogers Centre will undoubtedly be at full capacity tonight as Edwin Encarnacion and the Cleveland Indians roll into town for a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The million dollar question is what type of reception will Edwin Encarnacion and the parrot receive from the 45,000 faithful who will be in attendance. The entire free-agent ordeal was discussed ad nauseam all winter-long before the first baseman eventually signed on the dotted line with Cleveland.

Encarnacion addressed his return to Toronto yesterday with Indians reporter Paul Hoynes.

"“The fans used to like me there, but I don’t know,” said Encarnacion, when asked what kind of reception he’s expecting. “We’ll have to wait and see. I’ll be ready for anything.”"

"“I think it was the decision I needed to make because it was the best for me, my goal is to play this game for a few more years and try to win the World Series. It was a baseball decision for me. It was tough to leave. I’d been there for a long time, but it’s a business.”"

The Blue Jays offered Encarnacion $80 million early on in the free-agent process, however, moved on from the slugger quickly once his camp declined the offer. As we all know Encarnacion would settle for a $60 million dollar pact with the Indians.

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Many Blue Jays fans blamed Encarnacion’s agent for misjudging the market and providing his client bad advice when it initially seemed Eddie preferred to remain north of the border.

Encarnacion has gotten off to a slow start in his new digs batting .217 with 5 home runs and striking out a whopping 39 times. If you are an Indians fan reading this, don’t fret Encarnacion is a notoriously slow starter in April but when the power does come it will come in bunches.

Many a Blue Jays fans heart broke the first time Eddie walked the parrot in an Indians uniform.

So does Eddie receive a boisterous ovation from the Skydome faithful or will Encarnacion hear the brunt of fans displeasure for not accepting the more than lucrative offer?

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Myself personally, I would not boo or jeer Eddie but I also hope there aren’t any “Edwing” sightings during his return to Toronto.