Phillies-Yankees: Game 6 talking points

* One and done. The Phillies' hopes of becoming the first National League team to repeat as world champions since the Reds in 1975 and '76 ended when the Yankees clinched the 27th title in the history of the fabled franchise and their first since 2000. The Phillies will go to spring training next February with a chance to become the first team in club history to finish first 4 consecutive years, though.

* Turning point? Manager Charlie Manuel allowed starter Pedro Martinez to stay in the game and face Yankees designated hitter Hideki Matsui with the bases loaded and two outs in the third. Matsui already had homered against Martinez in the second inning. And he had a homer, a single and a walk against him in Game 2. Oops. Matsui drove in two more runs with a single up the middle to make the score 4-1, the Yankees never looked back, and Matsui earned Series MVP honors.

* Heartburn. Manuel might have flip-flopped struggling Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth in the batting order for Game 6. He might have taken Martinez out in the third inning. He didn't do either, even with the season on the line. The manager is fiercely loyal to his players, but some outside the clubhouse are sure to question whether he let sentiment get in the way of his better judgment this time.

* Old goats. Andy Pettitte, 37, outpitched Pedro Martinez, 38, even though the Phillies righthander was pitching on his normal turn and the Yankees lefthander had had only 3 days' rest. Martinez lasted only four innings and gave up four runs. Pettitte pitched 5 2/3 and allowed three. This winter, the Phillies will have to figure out whether they want Martinez back, and the future Hall of Famer will have to decide whether he'd like to return.

* Riddle me this. Was there anything the Phillies could have done to change the outcome of the World Series? Or were the Yankees simply a better team?