The Yankees largely failed in their division-rival showdown this Mike Napoli Jersey weekend, denting their hopes of rising as a contender in the AL East and a realistic contender in the playoffs. Youre up, Mets. Beginning today is a three-game face-off with the Phillies at Citi Field in which the Mets can begin a charge up the NL East or learn they should lower their gaze and focus on the Reds, who are their main wild-card competition. This is the same kind of could-be-season-defining test the Yankees stared into and blinked this weekend, losing three of four in The Bronx to the second-place Red Sox and falling 5 games back of the Blue Jays while sitting in the second wild-card spot. Aaron Boones bunch is 17-22 in their division, 34-34 against teams over .500 and an incredible 7-19 against the ALs four best teams in the Tigers, Blue Jays, Astros and Red Sox. There are real questions about the Yankees that extend past their ability to crack into a bloated playoff field. If they cannot consistently beat good teams and if matchups with their blood rivals leave them bleeding where is the hope that they can make October meaningful? Jim Thome Jersey