Contraction reared its ugly head again this week when Gov. Tim Pawlenty played host to a meeting among Twins officials and political leaders. The twist was that the dreaded "C" word first was uttered by the governor and not Jerry Bell, the lead man in the Twins' ballpark efforts. Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat, who has jeopardized his political future more than anyone in this ballpark battle, was in attendance. "When the governor laid out the reasons that contraction could be something to be concerned over, Jerry Bell did correct him somewhat," Opat said. "He said it wouldn't be easily done, since baseball would be required to bargain the effects of contraction with the players [union]." Opat said in his many conversations with Bell and other Twins officials that the possibility of contraction had not been raised. "The Twins have conducted themselves in good faith through this whole process," Opat said. "Now, if they get to the point where they say, 'We've taken it as far as we can,' I don't expect them to tell me their strategy."