Rockies' Opening Day game against Marlins will air on ESPN2

I don't care what anyone says -- there's always an element of pride and/or excitement when watching your favorite team and favorite players do their thing on a national stage. That's exactly what Rockies fans will get on Opening Day when their team takes on the Marlins on March 31 in Miami.

ESPN, which is entering its 25th season carrying Major League Baseball games, kicks off its Monday Night Baseball slate with the meeting between the two 1993 expansion teams. The game will air at 5 p.m. MT on ESPN2 and will be available in live-stream format via WatchESPN.

Unfortunately, ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain will infringe upon the fun by also carrying the Opening Day game, preventing Rockies fans residing in the team's blackout area from seeing ESPN's feed. ROOT will broadcast that and 149 other regular season games, with the remaining 12 being available on MLB.tv -- though, again, if you're within the Rockies' blackout area, you're out of luck.

The Rockies will have three nationally televised spring training games, beginning with their meeting with the Athletics on March 13 on MLB Network. The network will also air the Rockies' March 16 contest against the Dodgers and their March 19 game against the Cubs.

ROOT will also carry that game against the Cubs, as well the Rockies' spring training contests on March 20, 22, 23, 28 and 29.