I should have asked for Monday off. Better yet, I should have requested the entire week off. It's baseball season, and I can't get enough of it. 

The only disappointing glitch, and it's a small one because I found a work around, is that the Cincinnati Reds' game isn't televised. It's the first time in 8 years, the Reds' Opening Day game won't be broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2.

But as I said, it's a minor detail because I found a work around. For the first week of the season, all the games can be seen on MLB Extra Innings -- FREE. Yes, FREE. (Just putting the word "FREE" in bold makes be feel like I'm watching a late-night informercial for some Ronco product.)

For those that have Bright House networks digital package that's channels 154 through 163. Now I don't know what the channels are if you have DirecTV, but I'll know once I get in the office tonight.

So I encourage you to take the day off Tuesday and Wednesday. Maybe Thursday. Shoot take the rest of the week off. You have my permission. And that's as good as a note from your mom in this case.