where Sunderland was eliminated in the round of 16 following Wednesdays

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matt Bush and Tony Barnette took drastically different and quite unconventional paths to becoming 30-something rookie relievers and locker mates with the AL West champion Texas Rangers.When the Rangers were in the playoffs last October, former No. 1 overall pick Bush was in the final month of a 3 +-year stint in prison for a drunken driving accident that nearly killed a man.The 32-year-old Barnette was finishing a record-setting season as a closer who helped the Tokyo Yakult Swallows reach the Japan Series.Its almost like fate, the 30-year-old Bush said. Here we both are, finally getting our chance, being around the same age, and get to share our experiences and our rookie years together.The right-handers are key setup men for the Rangers, who play the AL Division Series opener at home Thursday against the winner of the American League wild-card game (Baltimore or Toronto).Bush, now a reliever whose fastball touches 100 mph, was initially drafted in 2004 out of high school by his hometown San Diego Padres as a shortstop -- just ahead of 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, also a six-time All-Star.Within weeks after receiving a $3.15 million signing bonus and before even playing his first pro game, Bush was suspended by the organization following his arrest in a bar fight. That was only the first of several alcohol-related incidents before the nearly fatal accident while in spring training with the Tampa Bay Rays in March 2012.Sober since that time, the final nine months of Bushs prison sentence in Florida last year included living in a halfway house while in a work-release program with a job as a baker at a Golden Corral in Florida.It was in the parking lot of that restaurant that Rangers officials watched Bush throw in the mid-90s. After his release Oct. 30, Bush went to Texas with his father to work out for the team for which Josh Hamilton, another former No. 1 overall pick, went from alcohol and drug issues to being a five-time All-Star and the 2010 AL MVP.Everybody in every clubhouse for the most part has a story. Some stand out a little bit more than others, like Matts. Hes handled it tremendously. He shows up, works hard and throws 100 mph. Its fun to watch, Barnette said. Isnt baseball great? It gives guys like us chances.Barnette was a 10th-round draft pick by the Diamondbacks in 2006 from Arizona State, then started 96 games in four minor league seasons before going to Japan in 2010, a year before making the transition from starter to reliever. The Alaskan-born pitcher set a team record with 41 saves and a 1.29 ERA in 59 games for the Swallows last season before signing a two-year contract with Texas.Jonathan Lucroy, the catcher Texas acquired Aug. 1, said Bush and Barnette dont seem like MLB rookies, both having matured and learned from unique situations.While Barnette has spent the entire season with the Rangers, Bush went from spring training to Double-A Frisco after not playing any regular-season games since 2011.I really wouldnt have thought itd work out the way it is, especially with such a good team, a winning team, going to the playoffs now and being the setup guy. Its a dream come true really, Bush said. My true hopes were to finish the year without getting into any trouble, to stay sober, and to go into next year with a chance of getting placed on the 40-man roster.But things happened much faster than that, getting called up by the Rangers in mid-May after 12 relief appearances at Double-A, and converting all five save chances at the highest level he had pitched to that point. He has made 58 appearances for Texas (7-2, 2.48 ERA), and hasnt allowed a run in his last 10 appearances (11 1/3 innings).Its been fun, its been everything that I ever thought of, and being 30, Ive been able to handle myself, being more mature, Bush said. I definitely wasnt ready back then when I was a lot younger.Barnette (7-3, 2.09), who missed three weeks in September with a tight left oblique muscle, has recorded more than three outs in 19 of his last 27 appearances since mid-June, with a 0.79 ERA in that span.We know our roles and we know whats expected of us, and I think it helps being older, and the fact that were comfortable with who we are now, Barnette said. And were not worried about stepping on anybodys toes around us, because were older than everybody.On a team with 28-year-old shortstop Elvis Andrus being the longest-tenured position player in his eighth season, Bush and Barentte are certainly the old rookies. Garrison Mathews Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Stitched Wizards Jerseys .4 million title. 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Last weekend, Arsenal had the kind of performance that vexes their supporters.Having quickly regrouped to advance to the EFL Cup quarterfinals, however, the Gunners now have another opportunity to show how far theyve come mentally on Saturday when they face bottom-feeders Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.Arsenal (6-2-1) are one of three teams atop the table on 20 points, trailing Manchester City by the slimmest of goal difference margins while also holding that same narrow advantage over Liverpool.Arsene Wengers side had its seven-match winning streak come to end last Saturday with a 0-0 draw at home versus new boys Middlesbrough. The gaffer admitted his teams effort was less smooth and less fluent than its impressive winning run in which Arsenal outscored opponents 23-3.But the Frenchman also made note of his teams willingness to dig in and scrape out a result, a virtue that did not always appear last season and contributed to their lack of a title challenge to eventual winners Leicester City.Weve lost games like that, he told Arsenals official website. We are in a position where weve come out of (seven) straight wins. We didnt win but before we maybe wouldve panicked a bit and lost the game.With a quick turnaround in the League Cup, Wenger made nine changes to his starting XI and the result was a 2-0 victory Tuesday over Championship side Reading. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain provided the offence with goals on either side of halftime as the Gunners advanced opposite Southampton in the quarterfinals next month.Any game that I play in is an opportunity for me to show what I can do. And whether its the league, the Champions League, the League Cup or the FA Cup -- its all important, said Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has seen sporadic playing time during the season.Its all game time and its good to get your confidence up to try and play the way you want to play … and hopefully that form will carry over into the league and be rewarded with more starts.Wenger also got some good news as striker Olivier Giroud played nearly a half-hour off the bench and defender Carl Jenkinson, who tore his ACL while on loan with West Ham in January, logged the full 90 minutes.Sunderland (0-2-7) are the onlly team in Englands top five leagues without a victory and have the look of a team resigned to its annual fight to avoid the drop.dddddddddddd The Black Cats were done in by some bad luck last weekend, falling 1-0 at West Ham on a goal by Winston Reid deep into stoppage time.Those losses in league play finally bled over into the EFL Cup, where Sunderland was eliminated in the round of 16 following Wednesdays 1-0 defeat at Southampton. It was the third straight match in all competitions David Moyes team failed to score, but the Scottish manager found some silver linings to bring into Saturdays match -- even if he was banished from the touchline after Victor Anichebe was denied a penalty late.The boys played really well, they deserved to come away with much more, Moyes told the teams official website. I think we played well, our performance was good. We made opportunities today and we dont deserve to be where we are.I think theyll take confidence from getting more touches on the ball, but we need to finish it off and get a few goals to go with it.One of the things that could build confidence for Sunderland would be playing with a lead, but Moyes side have held an advantage for just five of the first 810 minutes theyve logged in league play, conceding a late equaliser at Southampton on Aug. 27 after Jermain Defoe had converted from the spot on 80 minutes.Sunderland are trying to avoid becoming the first Premier League side to open a season winless through their first 10 matches since the 2014-15 Burnley squad opened with four draws and six defeats.And history is decidedly against Sunderland this weekend. The Black Cats have just one win in their last 25 league matches (1-9-15) against Arsenal, a 1-0 victory on Nov. 21, 2009. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last six trips (4-2-0) to the Stadium of Light in league play.Additionally, Arsenal have yielded only eight goals in 15 matches at Sunderland, and while Giroud may not be able to go the full 90 minutes, he does have five goals and two assists in his last six league matches versus the Black Cats. ' ' '