He's telling a visitor from Philadelphia how great the ribs are at this little hole-in-the-wall barbecue joint over in Auburndale, not far from his off-season home in central Florida.

Manuel is right. The ribs are bone-suckin' good, and the baked beans are worthy of two thumbs up.

Toward the end of lunch, Manuel makes it clear that he wants seconds.

But he's not talking about barbecue.

He's talking about a World Series title.

"Repeating is hard, but I think we can," he says. "Yes, I do.

"Our expectations just got bigger, but it's important for us to be there again and win."

The Phillies won 92 games last season, then blazed through the postseason with 11 wins in 14 games to win the second World Series title in franchise history.

Manuel thinks the team can be better this season.

"The consistency of our pitching the last 10 weeks, including the postseason, showed how we can play," he says. "If we can match our pitching at the end of the season, we'll be in business, because I think our hitting will be better."

The Phils scored 799 runs last season, tying them with the New York Mets for second most in the National League. (The Chicago Cubs led the league with 855.) The Phillies' run total came with Ryan Howard slumping early, Jimmy Rollins having an up-and-down season, and Chase Utley being bothered by a hip injury that sapped some of his ability to drive the ball late in the season.

Manuel believes that all three can put together complete seasons in 2009, and that Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth will continue to emerge.

"Basically we have the same team, except for Pat," he says.

The Phils made no effort to re-sign outfielder Pat Burrell and opted to try to replace his production (he averaged 31 home runs and 98 RBIs the last four seasons) with that of veteran Raul Ibanez.

"I'm going to miss Pat," Manuel says. "We had a good relationship. Sometimes he didn't like how I used him, when I took him out of games, but there was always respect there. I will miss him for who he is. He was a leader. He loved to play. He wanted to win.

"If Ibanez hits like he has the last couple of years, if he's the same guy we saw in Seattle, he'll offset Pat's numbers. He's a better contact hitter than Pat. Pat has more power. But Ibanez had 20-plus home-run seasons over there, and that should play well in our park."

Manuel plans to bat Ibanez fifth or sixth. He has driven in 123, 105 and 110 runs, respectively, the last three seasons, and should have plenty of RBI opportunities in this lineup. Ibanez hit .327 (to Burrell's .238) with runners in scoring position last season.

Talking hitting is one of Manuel's passions, but on this day, he's eager to talk about pitching.

"We could come out of spring training with a heck of a staff," he says.

Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton have had seasons in which they have pitched more than 200 innings. If all four can do that this season, the Phillies' bullpen - the best in the league in 2008 - will stay fresh.

The bullpen allowed just eight runs in 401/3 innings in the postseason, and Manuel says the Phillies' ability to produce quality starts (six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed) played a big role in that success.

Manuel can't say enough good things about Hamels, who blossomed into one of the game's best pitchers in 2008 and will be one of the favorites to win the league's Cy Young Award this season. Hamels was 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five postseason starts and was named MVP of the National League Championship Series and the World Series.

"He's gotten better and better every year," Manuel says of Hamels, 25. "He's got the stuff, the presence and the makeup. He's got a great attitude about the game. He likes to be there. He likes the challenge of proving he can get that hitter out."

Manuel looks for Myers to build on his strong 2008 second half - a good bet with the free-agent-to-be pitching for a contract.

Issue No. 1 in spring training, which begins Saturday, will be determining a fifth starter. Lefthander J.A. Happ will join righthanders Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco and Chan Ho Park in the competition.

Manuel is eager to look at the 26-year-old Happ, who had a 2.28 ERA in four starts for the Phils in 2008.

"I like Happ," he says. "I think he grew up the last two years. He made some quality starts for us, and I brought him in out of the bullpen in the playoffs against the Dodgers and he was really good. He handled it well."

Kendrick has 21 wins in 50 big-league starts. His chance at reclaiming the job he lost last season hinges on the improvement of his off-speed pitches. Hitters have adjusted to his sinker, which is a good pitch.

Carrasco, a top prospect, probably needs more time in triple A, and Park will help in the bullpen if he doesn't win the fifth starter's job.

The goal of the starters will be to go deep into games and get the ball to the bullpen, which remains basically intact. The bullpen will face an early challenge with lefthander J.C. Romero out until June as he serves a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. Lefthander Scott Eyre figures to fill Romero's role.

Manuel continues to look for big things from Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge at the end of games.

With spring training about to heat up, Manuel's goal for the pitching staff is simple.

"Get 'em ready, stay healthy," he says.

He pauses.

"Teams will be gunning for us," he adds. "People expect more out of us. We can't get complacent and I don't think we will, because we've got some real pros on this team. They like to win and know what it takes.

"I like us. And if you like the way we played at the end of last season, you're going to like us now."

Contact staff writer Jim Salisbury

at 215-854-4983 or jsalisbury@phillynews.com.