The hitting's been great, the pitching has been inconsistent, and they're still getting accustomed to the new ballpark. No, this is not the 2000 version of the Houston Astros, it's the 2001 team that is trying to make a push to win its fourth division title in five years. The Astros have relied on young arms and big bats to get within striking distance of the Cubs. Let's take a look at the good, bad and in-betweens of the Astros' first half.
First-half MVP: If there was ever a case of two guys sharing MVP honors, this is it. Moises Alou and Lance Berkman have posted remarkable numbers in the first half, and both players deserved their All-Star bids. Despite spending time on the DL, Alou hit .362 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI in the first half. Berkman (.365, 79 RBI and 25 HR) has enjoyed a breakout year that most people expected, just not this early.
In a lineup loaded with good hitters, the two outfielders stood above the rest.
Biggest surprise: And the rookies shall lead the way. Wade Miller is 11-3 with a 3.79 ERA and Roy Oswalt
is 7-1 with a 2.26. Who would have expected those numbers in March? Although it's a tough call, we'll go with Oswalt. While Miller began the season with the big-league club, Oswalt started in the minors. The kid not only has ability, but poise that could make him a future Cy Young winner.
Biggest disappointment: Scott Elarton (4-8, 6.92) is the only answer here. First, the bad news. After winning 17 games last season, Elarton looked to take another step in 2001. Unfortunately, he's going in the wrong direction. He's allowed 24 home runs in 105.1 innings, not exactly the numbers that you'd want from an ace. The good news? Elarton went 9-4 in the second half last season with an ERA of 4.08. Astros' fans can only hope for better days.
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Astros first-half comparison
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2000
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2001
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W-L
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30-57
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48-38
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HR leader
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2 tied at 23
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Berkman, 25
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BA leader
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Alou, .359
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Berkman, .365
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ERA
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Reynolds, 4.17
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Miller, 3.79
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Second-half goals: In a nutshell, the Astros need to get Elarton going and hope the trio of Miller, Oswalt and fellow rookie Tim Redding doesn't succumb to the pressure of a pennant chase. The offense will still be potent, so it's up to the pitching to deliver. It's unlikely that owner Drayton McLane Jr. will open his wallet to get another arm for the rotation. Houston will swim or sink with the current roster.
Minor-leaguer to watch: The organization's Double-AA affiliate, Round Rock, has give the major-league team the likes of Oswalt, Miller and Redding on the mound. But with Jason Lane at Round Rock, they are proving to have hitters also. The outfielder is batting a Texas League-best .348 with 28 home runs. He was the Texas League Player of the Month for June, and could follow Berkman's pipeline to the majors.
Grade:  -- While they made a nice run to get near the top of the division standings, the Astros underachieved to a certain extent in the first half. The talent on the team is better than its record, and they have the second half to prove it.
(Scale: 1 to 4 baseballs; 1 = worst, 4 = best)
Here are your thoughts about our midseason report on the Astros.
Anna Sivadasan is an assistant editor at ESPN.com
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