For Twins, levity wards off strike's sinking feelings.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ We are here, inside the clubhouse of the Minnesota Twins, to check on the mood of baseball's best story as the game's worst day approaches, edging closer with the promise and subtlety of a guillotine.

We wonder what will happen if the little team that could can't because everyone else decides greed is more important than something just flat good.

In Ron Gardenhire's office, the manager is discussing another Twins victory, this one 6-5 over the Royals on Saturday.

"I put a lobster in Eddie's lap before today's game," Gardenhire says, not smiling, not smirking, not even suggesting this comment is the least bit unusual when, in fact, it could be the weirdest post-game statement made by anyone in this sport in several seasons.

Ah, Ron, you said lobster, right? And Eddie, as in reliever Eddie Guardado? And lap, as in you dropped a freaking live lobster in the lap of your freaking …