NEW YORK – Charlie Manuel was heading to t

NEW YORK – Charlie Manuel was heading to the interview room when he spotted a reporter walking alongside.

“Two out of three, that’s what I told them,” Manuel said.

Sounds like the Philadelphia Phillies and their manager already have set their goal for 2010.

The Phillies fell two wins short of becoming the first NL team in
33 years to win consecutive World Series titles, losing to the Yankees in six games. Looking ahead to next year, they see reasons for optimism.

“We’ve got a good team, and we love to play baseball,” Manuel said. “We will be back.”

The team has a young nucleus of star players who are under contract for at least one more season. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton are 30 years old or younger.

In five seasons in Philadelphia, Manuel has led the Phillies to three conseucutive NL East titles and the franchise’s second championship. He plans to keep adding to that résumé.

“I think we’re in a span right here where within the next couple years, that’s going to be very important for us,” Manuel said. “I think it’s going to be our heydays, as you might say. It’s very important for the next couple years that we stay afloat. But at the same time, I think we have the talent, and I think that we can tinker with our team enough to even get better.”