The Astros finished the first half of the 2011 season with a 30-62 record which has them in last place in the N.L. Central, 19 games behind the Cardinals and Brewers. The Astros are also 24 games behind the Braves for the Wild Card. I look for the Astros to be selling off some veterans by the trade deadline at the end of this month. The second half of the season could be very depressing for Astros’ fans. Here is a look at the players who made the biggest impact in the first half of 2011 for the Astros:

Team MVP: 28-year old righty swinging RF Hunter Pence has without a doubt been the MVP for the Astros so far this year. Pence has played in 86 games for the Astros so far this year and he is 114 for 353 (.323 avg, .860 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. It would be terrible if the Astros traded Pence later this month but I would put nothing past them right now.

Biggest Surprise: 26-year old righty reliever Mark Melancon has taken over as the closer with Brandon Lyon done for the season. Melancon has pitched in 42 games (0 starts) for the Astros so far this year and he is 5-2 with 6 saves, a 3.07 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. The Astros hope he keeps up the good work because a lot of the Astros’ wins in the second half are likely going to be close games.

Biggest Disappointment: 28-year old lefty starting pitcher J.A. Happ has been pathetic so far this year. Happ has started 18 games for the Astros so far this year and he is 3-11 with a 5.76 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He has walked 53 batters in his first 100 innings for the Astros but he has always had bad control, but this season it’s hurting him.

The Houston Astros were swept by the Phillies over the weekend. They were outscored 21-11 by the Phillies as they only hit .231 with a .619 OPS. The Astros should have won on Opening Day but Brandon Lyon brought in a gas can with him in the 9th inning. That ruined an awesome start by Brett Myers. Wandy Rodriguez and Bud Norris were awful behind Myers in the starting rotation over the weekend. The Astros need the starting pitchers to get back on track because they aren’t likely going to be scoring a ton of runs in 2011.

The Houston Astros are 36-53 on the season which has them in 5th place in the N.L. Central, 12.5 games behind the Reds. A lot of things have went sour for the Astros this sesaon, but not everything. Here is a look at some surprises and disappointments so far this season:

Pleasant Surprises: The Astros have always liked Jeff Keppinger as a utility man but he is doing a good job as the starting 2B this year. Keppinger has played in 82 games for the Astros this season and he is 90 of 317 (.284 avg, .720 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 3 homers, 31 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Astros are very happy with 29-year old Brett Myers who has been solid for them this year. He has started 18 games for the Astros this year and he is 6-6 with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. 30-year old righty Matt Lindstrom beat out Brandon Lyon for the closer’s job and he has been very solid. Lindstrom has pitched in 35 games (0 starts) for the Astros this year and he is 2-1 with 21 saves, a 2.80 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. 25-year old righty swinging rookie 3B Chris Johnson has really been solid since given the starting job. He has played in 24 games for the Astros this year and he is 22 of 78 (.282 avg, .685 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

Disapointments: 35-year old righty swinging 3B Pedro Feliz was supposed to flash good leather while providing some power. That has not been the case in 2010. Feliz has played in 74 games for the Astros this year and he is 56 of 255 (.220 avg, .546 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 3 homers and 26 RBIs. He has lost his starting job to Chris Johnson. 34-year old switch hitting 2B Kazuo Matsui was supposed to start at 2B but he was so awful the Astros released him. Matsui played in 27 games for the Astros this year and he was 10 of 71 (.141 avg, .352 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. The Astros though 31-year old Wandy Rodriguez turned the corner last season as he was very good in 2009. But he has started 18 games for the Astros in 2010 and he is 6-11 with a 4.97 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. 30-year old righty reliever Jeff Fulchino was coming off solid 2009 for the Astros. But in 2010, Fulchino has been awful! Fulchino has pitched in 29 games (0 starts) for the Astros this year and he is 0-0 with a 6.83 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP.

The Astros are off to a 3-9 start this season which has them in last place in the N.L. Central, 5 games behind the Cardinals. The Astros have been outscored 58-27 this season as they just can’t hit the ball right now. With Lance Berkman returning tomorrow maybe he will give the offense a shot in the arm. The Astros have six home games this week playing 3 against the Marlins and the Pirates.

The Astros went 0-6 in the first week of the 2010 season as they were outscored 37-13! They didn’t hit or pitch well and if things don’t start to change soon it’s going to be a long, long year for the Astros. The Astros are only hitting .222 with a .548 OPS so far this season and that is downright pathetic. It doesn’t get any easier this week for the Astros as they travel to St. Louis (3 games) and Chicago (3 games).