The Phillies released their playoff roster Tuesday and one World Series hero was left out of the NLDS.
Utility man Eric Bruntlett, who hit a pinch-hit home run in Game 2 against Tampa Bay and then scored the winning run in Game 3, was left of the NLDS roster that was released Tuesday.
The move wasn’t too surprising considering that Brunts struggled mightily at the plate this season only batting .171 with no homers and only seven RBI in 118 plate appearances.
It also didn’t help Mr. Triple Play that he committed five errors in limited action in the field this season.
Miguel Cairo will step in as the late-inning infield utility man and bat off the bench. The veteran journeyman made up for a pitiful start that landed him in Triple-A by batting .370 with a homer and two RBI in 39 plate appearances since Sept. 1.
Cairo also has his share of postseason experience appearing in three different postseason series. He batted .328 with a homer and six RBI in 72 plate appearances over 19 postseason games.
The bullpen roster also had a surprising name listed. Lefty Antonio Bastardo was one of 12 pitchers who will be carried against the Rockies. The southpaw was picked over pitchers Tyler Walker, Sergio Escalona and Clay Condrey.
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The young southpaw made five starts for the Phightins in June before heading to the disabled list with arm troubles.
He suddenly reappeared in the second-to-last game of the season where he pitched a scoreless inning of relief against the Marlins.
Bastardo could fill a situational lefty need for the Phillies especially since the other bullpen southpaw, Scott Eyre, entered the postseason with elbow troubles that limited his action down the stretch.
The Phillies can make changes to the roster before the NLCS and they can also make replacements for injured players.
The rest of the NLDS roster was as follows:
Catchers: Carlos Ruiz, Paul Bako
Infielders: Cairo, Greg Dobbs, Pedro Feliz, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley
Outfielders: Ben Francisco, Raul Ibanez, Matt Stairs, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth
Pitchers: left-handers Bastardo, Eyre, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Cliff Lee and right-handers Joe Blanton, Chad Durbin, Kyle Kendrick, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Pedro Martinez and Brett Myers
