O's players talk trade deadline and scoreboard watching

With the non-waiver trade deadline set for Thursday, July 31 at 4 p.m., there is still some uncertainty in the Orioles clubhouse. The players have to be happy to be in first place but also wondering if there will be any additions or subtractions coming. "You know it's always interesting," pitcher Zach Britton said. "We hear what people are saying. But until something happens or a new player walks in the clubhouse or someone is leaving ours, I don't think we'll focus on it too much. "If we can add a quality player, I'm sure Dan (Duquette) and Buck (Showalter) will do that. I don't think there is anything glaring that we necessarily need but you can always add a piece to better yourself." Those pursuing the Orioles in the division could make moves as well. "Yeah, definitely," Britton said. "You know the teams on our coattail could add some pieces. We played Oakland and they added two pieces. We just have to play to our ability and we'll be fine, but if you can add a piece that is really going to take us to the next level, I think we should do that." The Orioles host the Angels here at Camden Yards, and they begin play tonight 2 1/2 games ahead of Toronto, 4 1/2 up on New York, seven ahead of Tampa Bay and 11 up on Boston. Steve Pearce admitted that the players are doing some scoreboard watching right now. "Of course we are," he said. "We can only control what we can control but we like to see what's going on. We know there is a race going on and we check the scoreboard. It won't change our game, we know we have to take care of business but we definitely scoreboard watch." Pearce is having a solid season, batting .299 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs in 64 games, but his bat has cooled off somewhat. Over his last five games, he is 2-for-20. Over his past 14 games, he is batting .188 (9-for-48) with one homer and one RBI. "You know it's one of those things. Start off hot and you cool off," Pearce said. "It goes south there a little bit, but every player goes through it. Working my butt off to try and find where I was. I have great coaches here working with me every day. I'm pressing a little bit. But it's baseball, it happens." "It's nice that he's putting me in the lineup. Sometimes you just try to do too much. You want to try and get out of your slump but you keep digging yourself into a bigger hole. Working every day to try and get out it and do whatever I can to help this team."