Published by
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
By Will Laws and Nick Selbe Opening Day is here! Let’s count down the reasons for fans to be excited this year, one for every day of the lockout. From Dec. 2 to March 12, there was legitimate reason to wonder whether we’d get to watch Major League Baseball in 2022. Thankfully, the time for fretting—and waiting—is over. The 99-day lockout forced the game to confront its most existential threats and fatal flaws. Its termination saved the game from a disastrous conclusion and ushered in the opportunity for progressive, healthy change in the years to come. Mostly, though, it gave us back the game …