Shout It out

Exclamation point added to Astros perfect season as Jose Altuve is named MVP

Jose Altuve hits home run against Boston in Game 1 of ALDS

Astros fans were right.

Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

After much anticipation, it's official: Jose Altuve is your American League Most Valuable Player for 2017. Minute Maid Park will get to continue to chant "MVP!" into the 2018 season when their best player steps up to the plate.

It should be no surprise that Altuve was able to claim one of the league's top honors for this season, at least for anyone outside of New Yorkwho was probably feeling strongly about the Yankees' Aaron Judge after his stellar rookie year.

Altuve had an outstanding regular season, a career year, in fact. He led the AL in hits with 204, making it his fourth straight 200-hit season, and finished with an incredible .346 batting average to earn his third batting title. In addition to the best batting average of his career thus far, Altuve also had his best on-base percentage (.410), slugging percentage (.547) for a combined .957 slugging plus on-base percentage which was third in the AL.

Altuve was second in the league in runs scored at 112 and in stolen bases at 32. He was also second in WAR, wins above replacement, at 7.9 games, a pretty telling number that shows that without him, the Astros would've been a totally different team.

He was also solid on the defensive side of the ball, finishing fifth among AL second basemen in fielding percentage at .982 and fourth in assists at 351 while committing 10 errors on the year.

All in all, even though the postseason is not considered in the MVP voting, Altuve's remarkable year was definitely one of the driving forces that led the Astros to their first championship in franchise history.

It's hard to say if Altuve still would've been named MVP if Judge hadn't had his second-half slump, or if Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout hadn't been sidelined for a chunk of the season, but there's no question that all things considered Altuve deserved to be in the running, and it's no surprise he won this year and should continue to be a contender for years to come.

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This story originally appeared on SportsMap.

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Revived Houston Comets franchise will broadcast games on TV for free

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Houston sports fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the Comets, the city’s WNBA franchise. When they’re not able to attend games at Toyota Center, Houstonians will be able to watch all of the team’s games for free.

The Comets announced a multi-year partnership with local TV stations KHOU and KTBU to be the team’s home for local broadcasts. All of the Comets’ games will air for free on KTBU (Channel 55) with select games also airing on KHOU (Channel 11). Fans only need an antenna to pick up the signal and watch the games on their TVs.

Games will also be simulcast on Space City Home Network, the team's regional sports network that it shares with the Houston Rockets and the Houston Astros, and on SCHN+, the direct-to-consumer streaming service.

“KHOU has covered Houston sports for decades, and the Comets’ homecoming is a story we’ve been waiting to tell,” said David Loving, president and general manager, KHOU, in a statement. “As a founding partner, we’re ready to bring Comets action to fans across the region.”

Both stations are owned by TEGNA, a media company that operates 64 stations in 51 markets.

Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta paid a reported $300 million to acquire the Connecticut Sun and relocate them to Houston as the Comets. One of the WNBA’s original franchises, the Comets won the league’s first four championships from 1997-2000. The team disbanded in 2008.

The WNBA season typically begins in early May. Earlier this year, the league announced it would move to a 50-game regular season. This year will also mark the debut of two new teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, that will bring the league to 15 total.

Other details about the Comets’ return to Houston, including updated uniforms and logos, have yet to be announced.

“Bringing the Comets back to Houston is about reigniting the passion, pride, and energy that have always connected this organization with its fans and community,” said Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations for the Houston Rockets and Comets. “As the WNBA continues to reach new heights, we’re thrilled to partner with TEGNA to make Comets basketball more accessible to fans across the Houston area through free, over-the-air broadcasts on KTBU and additional coverage on KHOU. We’re excited to bring fans closer to the action and deliver outstanding coverage as we begin this exciting new chapter in Comets history.”

For more information about the Comets, including season ticket information, visit houstoncomets.com.

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