Adam Jones: "We might be getting beat, but that's not from a lack of effort"

ARLINGTON, Texas - Let's start by reviewing the numbers that I tagged onto the end of my last blog entry. Be advised that they're not pretty.

The Orioles lost to the Rangers today 6-0 at Globe Life Park to complete the three-game sweep. They went 1-6 on the road trip. They've lost four games in a row, 10 of 11 and 11 of 13 to fall four games below .500 for the first time since June 7.

The Orioles (63-67) are 11 games out of first place in the division and 5 1/2 behind the Rangers for the second wild card. They're now in fourth place and only three games ahead of the last-place Red Sox.

The lack of offense continues to be an issue. The Orioles have been held to three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 11 games. They've been shut out nine times this season - Derek Holland went the distance today and held them to three hits - and are 0-59 when trailing after the eighth inning.

The Orioles already have exceeded their loss total from last season and we still have a month remaining.

OK, now that we got all of that out of the way ...

Center fielder Adam Jones was standing at his locker after the game, waiting for reporters and basically serving as team spokesman. He's the leader in the clubhouse and it showed again.

"The game is frustrating in general," Jones said. "You've just got to get back on it, man. Ain't nobody is going to feel sorry for us. Just got to go out and play the game right and continually give the best effort we can.

"We've been playing some good teams, teams that are still in. The Royals are leading their division by a lot, but are still trying to clinch. The Rangers are in the same boat we are. They're also in the same boat with the division. So, we're playing some teams that have something to play for. That's the beauty of the game is who's going to step up. And right now, we're being beat, but it doesn't mean lack of effort. It's just how the cards are falling for us right now."

Jones bristled at the suggestion that the Orioles no longer are in the thick of the pennant race, and that some fans perceive that the club isn't giving maximum effort.

"We're still right in the thick of things, so if you think we aren't, cool," Jones said. "I think we're in the thick of things. Just have to go on a five, six-game winning streak and you guys come back to us and say, 'Now you're in the middle of it.' It's just how it works. We've just got to get on that roll so you guys can ask those questions.

"My biggest thing about sports is when somebody doubts an effort or another player or something like that. That's basically calling him a coward. You know what I mean? Whenever someone says, 'Oh, you don't give an effort. You're not playing (with) effort,' that's kind of calling someone a coward. It's like me going to someone else's job and saying, 'You're not doing what you're supposed to be doing. You're not playing hard.'

"It's a sport, man. We go out there and play our tails off. Some days it looks pretty, some days it doesn't, but the effort is always there. For some people to say that our effort level isn't there just because we struck out 11 times, we could strike out 20 times, but to say our effort level wasn't there, that's a slap in the face and I want to slap somebody in the face who says that. There's my point of view on that.

"It annoys the hell out of me when people say effort is low. The effort's not low. We might be getting beat, but that's not from a lack of effort."

As the team leader, Jones is expected to address his teammates in times of crisis.

"I've talked to the team, I talk to these guys every day," Jones said. "What do you want me to do, bend them over and spank them? They're grown men. They understand the objective here."

The season appears to be crumbling into pieces, but the Orioles aren't conceding a thing.

"It's not like I'll just come play and have some fun in the major leagues," Jones said. "No, we're here to win and they understand that. A lot of the guys were here last year and got a taste of what we were about and the way we play the game. Right now, we're just getting beat. That's how it works. You've just got to figure out a way to win. That's how it is."

The Orioles boarded a charter flight home, where they begin a three-game series Monday night against the Rays.

"I know we haven't been home a lot this second half, but going home tonight," Jones said. "Hopefully, we get a good crowd this week with the three games at home. I know it's brief, but we need the support of our fans in Birdland just to be behind us because we're still going to make a run.

"There's a full month left, so I don't think anybody in this clubhouse has given up. If anybody outside this clubhouse has given up, hey, we can't do nothing about that. But inside this clubhouse, we still have the confidence that, when it's all said and done, we should be in there."

Nothing is going to top Jones' quotes, but here's more:

Manager Buck Showalter on Holland:
"It's a very offensive-friendly place, but we certainly didn't take part in it. He was good. He's been good for quite a while. He's certainly got his health back and that bodes well for him, bad for us."

Showalter on whether he's happy with his team's offensive approach and at-bats:
"Of course not. No. Something was amiss and he was part of it, but we knew what he was going to do and the approach he was going to take and what he was going to try to do in certain counts, and he did it anyway, which is a tribute to the stuff he brings but also a little indicator of where we are."

Showalter on falling behind early and Miguel Gonzalez's effort:
"It's been tough on our pitchers the whole trip because we just haven't scored any runs. We look at starting pitching different because of the results, other than a shutout. And we'd still be out there playing. It's tough on Miggy. But after the first inning, I thought his stuff crept up and was a little crisper."

Showalter on how he handles players during this rough stretch:
"We're striking out in double figures it seems like every game. I'm not going to beat up on them. If I do that, it's certainly going to be privately, not publicly. They understand and they're frustrated, and I think we're looking forward to getting home and see if we can right this ship."

Showalter on Gonzalez:
"After the first he was fine. It's a tough environment to pitch in where we are offensively right now. And this is usually a hitter-friendly park, but both teams didn't exactly light up the scoreboard. But they obviously did more than we did."

Showalter on whether the effort was there:
"It's not about effort. Physically, but I think emotionally and mentally, guys beat up on themselves as much as the opposition."

Showalter on how the Orioles can turn around their offense:
"That's a question that gets asked every year in that sport and for every team out there and it's us right now, and we've got to keep working. We've tried a lot of different things, trust me. It's not a time to point fingers. It's a time to rally around each other, which our guys have already tried to do and will do."

Showalter on all the strikeouts:
"We talk about it. They see it and Scott (Coolbaugh) sees it. I see it, all the coaches. We're all a part of it. You guys see it, too. It's pretty obvious. We just need to correct it. Try to play within our skill set."

Showalter on whether he needs to call a meeting:
"It's tough because you (reporters) have to come in here 10 minutes after the game, and you have to come in for an hour before that. That's not to say we already haven't done it two or three times, but I'm not going to publicize because we have to pick our spots."

Showalter on how road trip was supposed to be gut-check time:
"Every day is, every day is. Opening Day is. It's a challenge that only the people that go through it in the locker room understand that, and that's what people want somebody to say. It's kind of the obvious. Every day it is, so it will be again tomorrow. It's a stretch of 20 days in August. Very close in a lot of these games, as you've seen. Some days like today it doesn't feel like it."

Gonzalez on his improvement after the first inning:
"Command was better. Was making better pitches toward the end of the game. Holland pitched a great game, and you tip your hat to them. They've been playing really good baseball."

Gonzalez on getting through the struggles:
"You've got to be mentally tough. You've got to keep grinding. I know everyone is trying to do their best out there, and obviously we came a little short today, and we've got to keep working hard. Can't give up."

Gonzalez on the 1-6 road trip:
"It's tough to swallow. September is coming up, we've got to keep grinding, keep working hard, keep our heads up and give each other ... talk about positive stuff. That's going to be the main thing for September. Pick each other up."