What kind of celebration will Orioles have this season? | MAILBAG

Question: Any word on whether the Orioles will still use the sprinkler celebration this season? From: Beth from Sparta NC

Answer: Beth, I’m sure the Orioles will have some sort of celebration this season. I don’t know what it will be. Celebrations are generally organic and they just catch on.

I guess we’ll just have to look at the dugout on Opening Day and see what they have in mind for us.

Question: With the Collective Bargaining Agreement expiring, all the talk is about instituting a salary cap. What other issues are the owners hoping to address when negotiations begin? From: Kevin Gish

Answer: Kevin, you’re correct. Obviously, the biggest issue is the salary cap and cost containment. Another issue that has been negotiated in the past is instituting an international draft.

In the last CBA, the players and owners failed to reach agreement on the international draft, and the current system remained in place.

As I’ve written, I’m against a hard salary cap, though I am in favor of an international draft because I think pursuing young teenagers in the current system is distasteful, and a draft would reduce some of the nastier parts of international signing.

I expect that expansion to 32 teams within the next several years will be an issue the owners offer to the players in the final stages of negotiations. That would be a win-win. Owners would get large fees from expansion teams and many new jobs for players would be created.

Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.