VIERA, Fla. - Eric Bruntlett will always own a small chunk of Phillies history. After entering Game 5 of the 2008 World Series as a pinch-runner, he scored what would be the winning run to finish off the Tampa Bay Rays. A celebration ensued.
But Bruntlett had just 105 at-bats last year. Partly as a result, he batted .171. He was quietly released at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Nationals over the winter. It didn't surprise him that he had to move on.
"No, I knew kind of the way things shook out at the end of the year. I didn't get a lot of playing time. I think Charlie kind of lost confidence in using me," he said earlier this spring at Space Coast Stadium, referring to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. "So I wasn't surprised. I wish it had gone a little different last year for me personally. But it was a fun run there, the 2 years while I was there. A couple of great teams. They still have a great team. But I had a lot of fun while I was there. There's certainly no ill will toward them from my end and hopefully none from theirs toward me.
"At the end of the year, I kind of saw that the writing was on the wall. Something was going to have to happen for it to be any other ending."
On the bubble to make Washington's Opening Day roster, Bruntlett will always have a connection to the Phillies.
"I got that ring and scored the run," he said with a smile.
- Paul Hagen
