When the Texas Rangers clinch the AL West, which could happen as early as Friday night, reliever Matt Bush won't be participating in any champagne celebration.
A ginger ale celebration? Now that's one Bush can handle.
"I talked a little bit with [pitcher] Colby [Lewis] about it and Roy Silver," Bush said. "We'll see what happens. I'm sure the team is prepared. I think you'll probably see something similar to that.
"If the [topic of] alcohol is never touched or brought up, I'd never be here. That was the first topic of discussion: 'Are you going to be able to stay sober?'"
Silver is Bush's accountability partner. Bush, who lives with his father, doesn't carry cash or drive. Either Silver or Bush's father travels with Bush when the Rangers travel.
Bush, the No.1 pick in the 2004 draft, pleaded no contest to one count of DUI with great bodily injury in 2012 and was sentenced to 51 months in prison. He was released last October, signed with the Rangers in December and has been among the reasons why Texas is on the verge of winning its second consecutive division title and fourth in seven years.
The Rangers will win the AL West with a victory Friday over the Oakland Athletics or a loss by the Houston Astros, who host the Los Angeles Angels.
Bush is 7-2 with a 2.61 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings as a reliever and usually handles the seventh or eighth inning.
When Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson played for the Rangers, the club typically celebrated division titles and playoff series victories with ginger ale celebrations on the field. Then those two players would hurriedly dress and leave the clubhouse, allowing the other players to celebrate with champagne.
Hamilton avoided the celebrations to maintain his sobriety. Wilson did not drink alcohol.
"Ginger ale is my girlfriend's favorite drink," Bush said. "I've had a lot of it lately."