Steve Pearce: "We're going to show up to win ballgames"

A light rain continues to fall at Camden Yards. There's nothing else to update. Tarp looks the same. The Orioles haven't laid out their contingency plans if tonight's game is postponed.

The Orioles insist that they remain motivated through their final six games despite being eliminated last night from the wild card race.

"We're going to show up to win ballgames," said Steve Pearce. "We're not going to show up here and not give 100 percent and not try to win games because that's just not the way you do things. I have goals I want to accomplish. I want to go out there and get some consistency, maybe something positive going into the offseason, and definitely some wins just to build on something. Try to get some positive things going for the offseason.

"We didn't make the playoffs. It's disappointing. We worked so hard in the offseason and during the season, so obviously when you don't make the playoffs it's definitely disappointing."

Pearce is one of the pending free agents who could be playing his final games in Baltimore.

"I'm just trying to finish up strong, try not to think about all that stuff," he said. "That stuff will work out soon. I'm just trying to stay in the moment and just let all of that stuff take care of itself."

Pearce's preference is to stay with the Orioles and they seem inclined to make an attempt to re-sign him.

"Definitely," he said. "I like it here. I love my teammates, love the coaches, love the staff. It's a great ballpark, I love the division. I'd definitely love to come back here."

Manager Buck Showalter doesn't know how many of his players will return in 2016, the free-agent list also including Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, Wei-Yin Chen, Darren O'Day and Gerardo Parra.

"They're not used to blocking it out," Showalter said. "These are friends of theirs. These are very close. ... You go through the things that we've gone through together, sure you think about it. Of course you do. If you know the type of people we have, then you know that is something they think about. They care about each other.

"I always tell them at the end of the year, 'We picked your friends for you for seven, eight months. Now you can go pick your own.' The difference with this group is they do pick each other. They stay in touch and that won't change, regardless of what happens this offseason. Believe me, they know what's going on. There are so many things that are unspoken, a look. Everybody knows what's going on."

They knew that their last sliver of playoff hope dissolved early this morning.

"It's extremely disappointing, but it's one of those things where we have six games left here and there's some teams counting on us to put our best foot forward every night," Showalter said. "These games mean a lot to other teams, which makes them mean a lot to us. It's one of those things I think we'll discuss in the postseason sitdown we always do. I'm trying to stay focused on these six games.

"Obviously, there's a reality of that. It's self-inflicted and we knew it was going to be a tough climb in September. We made a couple good runs and it looked like we might get there. We played meaningful games late in September. It's a habit we want to keep, but we want to get to the finish line. We were disappointed last year, extremely disappointed the way the season ended. There's only one team that's walking around with their chest stuck out.

"One thing I learned a long time ago, when you first get there in a situation that's been struggling with Ws and Ls is to think that everything there is bad. That's a mistake. And you get into something good and you think everything is good. That's a mistake. When it will become that negative feeding frenzy that happens this type of year, you try to keep in mind some of the positive things that happened. I'm sure we'll get into that some on Monday.

"It's tough. First time you see those boxes in the locker room, it's not fun. I haven't seen those in a while, the last couple years."

A reminder of last year's division championship is plastered on the outfield fence. It brings a mix of joy and melancholy.

"I've looked out a couple times at left-center field at the banner we have up there about the crown last year," Showalter said. "I told the guys in the spring, people are going to come try to take something away from you and it's going to be a challenge to defend it."

The Orioles can play for personal goals, such as Manny Machado appearing in all 162 games and Chris Davis winning the home run title. He's currently tied with former teammate Nelson Cruz at 43.

"That kind of plays into it," Showalter said. "I think they've earned the right to have some input in that and I have and will talk to them. If there's something else I should be aware of, let me know. Are there any other ones? Are there any negative ones I can keep from happening?"

What about trying to keep the Blue Jays from celebrating a division title at Camden Yards? The Orioles clinched it against Toronto last year.

"You don't want to lose any games, but whether Toronto celebrates winning the division and being in the playoffs here, there, everywhere, we had that moment last year," Showalter said. "They're going to celebrate at some point and rightfully so. They should be very proud of the work they've done this year. They made some good acquisitions, good trades, free agent signings. Added some really key, good pieces. Much like we did last year and tried to this year."

Showalter said he won't manage differently and use the remaining games to evaluate younger players unless the outcomes no longer impact the Blue Jays and Yankees as they position themselves for the postseason.

"We will if we get to the point where the games cannot affect something, where New York has cast its lot and Toronto has cast its lot," Showalter said. "I just think integrity-wise ... For right now, no, but we might do some things differently if we get there. Which is another reason why September call-up baseball has lost a lot of what it was designed to do, because so many teams are playing games whether they're in it or out of it that do affect other teams and you have to put your best foot forward.

"There's an integrity of the competition that you always have to be true to and our guys know that. It looks like (Toronto) is going to win the division and rightfully so. They're just trying to position themselves to have the best possible spot in the playoffs. I congratulate them. There's some wins and losses and home field advantage and different stuff."