Let’s try to figure out what exactly was gained with the Great MLB Lockout of 2022 that ended on Thursday.

How about no regular season baseball in the chill of March?

The numbers are all mind-boggling to the average fan who right now is paying anywhere between $4 and $7 for a gallon of gas, depending on what part of the country you live in. Or grocery prices that are ridiculously through the roof.

So tell us again, MLB, what this whole thing was all about? Or better yet, tell people whose lives have been shattered by either a war going on across the world, or the pandemic that’s been world wide. Tell us, we’d all love to hear it.

This was all about maximizing profit and producing a win. The players felt they lost big time in the last deal agreed to without any work stoppage five years ago, yet we’re still trying to figure through all the hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars how. It was about top flight agents trying to make sure that happened, which we’ll come right out and say that’s way the union executive board voted 8-0 against the deal.

For the average Major Leaguer, they wanted to play baseball. So they told the agents, enough already. That’s why the vote was 26-12 – eight executive board votes and four team rep votes against. The teams, word has it, were the Yankees, Mets, Astros (figures) and Cardinals.

Fans are happy, but if MLB wants to charge the outrageous prices that it has been over the years, then maybe there should now be a fan stoppage. Hello, Red Sox? The average fan needs to take out a second mortgage to attend America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.

Baseball hopefully got a grip on reality. Something had to happen, but if players like Max Scherzer had their way this thing would have gone on forever. Thank goodness cooler heads prevailed and baseball’s version of March Madness is done.

Now the fun begins. The fans can enjoy the great Free Agent Frenzy of 2022 that should be taking place perhaps even before you read this. There were still plenty of names left on the open market, there could be trades in the works – evidently general managers could still talk despite nothing being official. Many teams didn’t make moves because they were waiting to see the parameters. MLB better take advantage of this, because it needs to make noise with the NCAA basketball tourney and NFL free agency starting next week.

At least the seven inning doubleheaders and the extra innings rules are a thing of the past. Not sure if we like the expanded playoffs, the one-and-done Wild Card Game in each league was usually a must see. Now it’s a best of three with one division winner out of luck in terms of getting a bye.

As for the pitch clock and the shift, how about the umpires stop granting time outs and tell batters if they don’t get a move on it their right arms will be raised on every pitch? How about lazy hitters learn how to hit the other way? We’ll have a year before that debate begins with 2023 rule changes.

Baseball is back, and we’ll take it. But the game and those who control it have a long, long way to go for us to feel it’s still on the right base path.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.