Manuel still positive

NEW YORK: Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel bemoaned his team's stuttering offense as it surrendered its World Series crown to the New York Yankees on Wednesday but insisted the campaign had still been a success.

"I told them that I loved the way they played and we definitely were fighters and we never quit," Manuel said. "The fact is that we want to keep what we've got as far as attitude and chemistry, our philosophy on how to play and we have a lot of resistance or endurance or whatever you want to call it. We love to play baseball."

The Phillies, who won their second World Series last year and expect all their key players to return next season, should have more glory years ahead, Manuel said. "I think it's going to be our heydays, as you might say. I think we have the talent and we can tinker with our team enough to get even better."