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Twins fans say that Cleveland is our biggest rival

but everyone hates the Yankees

By Kyle Thele and TJ Gorsegner

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Minnesota Twins Summer Camp Workout Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged in Twins fans, and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.

While the 2020 season will be extremely shortened, the new schedule does put an increased importance on winning divisional games. That often means needing to beat a team’s biggest rival — but who the heck do we even think the Twins biggest rival is?

During Rivalry Week, SB Nation Reacts asked baseball fans who specifically they saw as their favorite team’s biggest rival. There were a few teams that clearly draw that kind of attention from many teams.

Twins fans specifically, believe the team’s biggest rival is Cleveland, followed by the White Sox, Yankees and Brewers. Over seventy percent of Twins fans in the survey voted for the Spiders. As someone who grew up among White Sox fans, I can tell you how I voted.

There are many different kinds of rivalries. For some teams, that rivalry includes begrudging respect. That respect, however, is not universal. When fans were asked what team they disliked the most, results clearly changed. Yeah, notice who is in big, bold print in the middle of that word cloud? The F$@&%#’ Yankees, that’s who. Everyone hates those jerks.

Many different things can contribute to the creation of a rivalry. But when it comes to what most fans dislike about their rival, the answer is clear. If we had asked about the Vikings, I think the “Media” answer would have played up more. As it is, all of the AL Central teams mostly get ignored by media. “Their racist mascot” wasn’t an option either, but I guess that could go under history. Still, the reason that baseball fans disliked their rival, the answer is clear—their no-class fans!

If the MLB schedule is able to reach the playoffs and conclude as planned, the winner of these rivalries will shape the season. More than that, it will give fans additional bragging rights.

To vote in the Reacts surveys and have your voice heard each week, sign up here.

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