The old refrain, “Wait til next year,” has a hollow ring to it, especially when it follows such a monumental disappointment, such as the Reds experienced this week.

By blowing a 2-0 lead in the National League Division Series and losing the last three games to the Giants at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati failed to take the next step that seemed foreshadowed by the team’s first trip to the playoffs in 2010. The Reds won two games this year, instead of getting swept as they were in 2010, but they didn’t advance.

As the team’s results in 2011 showed — a third-place finish sandwiched between two division titles — nothing is guaranteed about next year, but there’s plenty of reason for hope with his young club. Fifteen players on the playoff roster will be 30 or younger on Opening Day next year, including pitchers like Mat Latos (24), Homer Bailey (26) and Aroldis Chapman (24).

“We’ve got a few young guys,” said first baseman Joey Votto, who will turn 30 next September. “Latos is probably the best example of a guy who’s improving. Chapman’s improving. Those are horses you desperately need to improve to be a championship-caliber team. We’ve got a group of young guys, myself included, who are into a good portion of our careers, and we’re players the team can count on.”

Two of the biggest contributors this year were rookies: third baseman Todd Frazier (26) and shortstop Zack Cozart (27).

“Not many rookies get to experience this,” said Cozart, after the 6-4 loss Thursday in Game 5. “Obviously, I wish we were going further, but this is a big learning experience for me. From day one all the way to day 190, or whatever it is, I’ve grown up a lot and learned things, how guys are going to pitch me, stuff like that, that I think will help me in my future.”

The Reds haven’t recorded back-to-back winning seasons since 1999-2000 and haven’t made the playoffs in consecutive years since 1975-76.

Almost all of the players are under contract for next year, with the exception of Ryan Ludwick and Scott Rolen. Ludwick signed a one-year deal before the 2012 season, and the Reds have a mutal option of $5 million with him for 2013. Rolen’s two-year contract expired with the end of this season.

Many of the key players — Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Cueto and Chapman — are under contract for years to come.

“If we’re not going anywhere, then we can learn from something like this,” Votto said. “Hopefully, it makes us tougher, it make us hungrier, it makes us better. I think it will.”