The Mets hope that they will get improvement out of the starting rotation in 2012. Here is a look at how the rotation looks as of right now:

#1: R.A. Dickey: 37-year old righty knuckleballer R.A. Dickey has finally seemed to master one of the toughest pitches to throw and the results have been outstanding the last couple of years for the Mets. Dickey pitched in 33 games (32 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 8-13 with a 3.28 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He has now pitched in 60 games (58 starts) in his first two years with the Mets and he s 19-22 with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Dickey has now pitched in 204 games (106 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 41-50 with 2 saves, a 4.34 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. I don’t see any reason to think that Dickey won’t be successful once again for the Mets in 2012.

#2: Jonathan Niese: 25-year old lefty Jonathan Niese was being shopped around this winter, but the Mets decided to keep him. He pitched in 27 games (26 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 11-11 with a 4.40 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Niese has now pitched in 65 games (64 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 22-23 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The Mets are hoping that Niese picks up the pace a little bit in 2012.

#3: Dillon Gee: 25-year old righty Dillon Gee is a winner, plain and simple. He pitched in 30 games (27 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 13-6 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Gee has now pitched in 35 games (32 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 15-8 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Gee doesn’t have the best stuff but he almost never gives in to hitters and the results have been pretty good. The Mets hope he keeps up the good work in 2012.

#4: Mike Pelfrey: 28-year old righty Mike Pelfrey should be better than he is. He pitched in 34 games (33 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 7-13 with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Pelfrey has now pitched in 150 games (146 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 50-54 with 1 save, a 4.40 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The Mets need to see some improvement out of Pelfrey or they might replace him in the rotation at some point in 2012.

#5: Johan Santana: 32-year old lefty Johan Santana missed all of last year due to a shoulder problem. He looks like he is going to be ready to go for 2012, but the Mets are going to have to monitor his workload to ensure that he won’t get hurt again. Santana has pitched in 88 games (all starts) in his first four years with the Mets and he is 40-25 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Santana has now pitched in 339 games (263 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 133-69 with 1 save, a 3.10 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. The Mets are hoping to get around 25 starts out of Santana in 2012.

Chris Schwinden: 25-year old righty Chris Schwinden is likely going to get another shot in the rotation for the Mets at some point in 2012. He pitched in 4 games (all starts) for the Mets last year and he was 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Schwinden also pitched in 28 games (26 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 8-8 with a 3.87 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.

Miguel Batista: 40-year old righty Miguel Batista was very effective last year for the Mets, so he could get a shot to start some games for them in 2012. He pitched in 9 games (4 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 2-0 with a 2.64 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. One of his starts was a complete game shutout for the Mets. Batista pitched in 35 games (5 starts) overall last year for the Mets & Cardinals and he was 5-2 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Batista has now pitched in 623 games (243 starts) in his first 17 years in the majors and he is 101-112 with 41 saves, a 4.48 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: C-

61-year old manager Terry Collins was last in charge of a major league dugout way back in 1999 with the Anaheim Angels and it didn’t go too well. The Angels were 51-82 (38.3%) under Collins that year. He has a 444-434 (50.6%) record in six years as a major league manager. Collins is already getting his way in N.Y. as he convinced the Mets to get rid of Luis Castillo & Oliver Perez, despite the team being on the hook for a lot of cash. Collins is not a players’ manager, so it will be interesting to see how the Mets’ players respond to him.

29-year old righty closer Francisco Rodriguez is still by far the best pitcher on the Mets’ pitching staff with Johan Santana out of action. K-Rod pitched in 53 games (0 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 4-2 with 25 saves, a 2.20 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He has now pitched in 123 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Mets and he is 7-8 with 60 saves, a 3.02 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. K-Rod has only given up 96 hits and he has whiffed 140 batters in his first 125 1/3 innings with the Mets, so his stuff is still there. But, he has walked 59 batters in his first two yeas with the Mets and it has gotten him into some trouble. If Rodriguez keeps his head on straight in 2011, he will have a good year for the Mets.

26-year old righty Bobby Parnell might step up and be the Mets’ set-up man in 2011. Parnell pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 0-1 with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has now pitched in 115 games (8 starts) in his first three years with the Mets and he is 4-9 with 1 save, a 4.63 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.

29-year old righty Manny Acosta also really stepped up last year for the Mets. Acosta pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 3-2 with 1 save, a 2.95 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has now pitched in 144 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 8-9 with 4 saves, a 3.40 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.

33-year old righty D.J. Carrasco will likely be the long man in the pen for the Mets in 2011. Carrasco pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Pirates & Diamondbacks last year and he was 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. In his first six years in the majors, Carrasco has pitched in 244 games (23 starts) in which he is 23-18 with 2 saves, a 4.31 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.

37-year old lefty Tim Byrdak will likely enter the 2011 season as the Mets’ lefty specialist. He pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Astros last year and he was 2-2 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He has now pitched in 343 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 9-10 with 3 saves, a 4.35 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.

38-year old righty Jason Isringhausen might just make the Mets’ Opening Day bullpen. He pitched in 7 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 1-0 with a 9.53 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the Tampa Bay Rays. Isringhausen has now pitched in 621 games (52 starts) in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 45-50 with 293 saves, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Isringhausen would like to end his career where it started…..with the New York Mets.

24-year old righty Pedro Beato comes into this season as the Mets’ #30 prospect according to Baseball America. He was a Rule 5 Draft Pick off the Orioles’ roster and it looks like he’s going to make the team. Beato pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 4-0 with 16 saves, a 2.11 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He has now pitched in 131 games (83 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 24-30 with 16 saves, a 4.21 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

29-year old righty Taylor Buchholz was once a very highly thought of prospect before injuries started to keep him down. So he could be a late bloomer. Buchholz pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays & Rockies last year and he was 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He has now pitched in 135 games (27 starts) in his first four years in he majors and he is 19-21 with 1 save, a 4.39 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

28-year old lefty Taylor Tankersley could also be a late bloomer. He pitched in 27 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 0-0 with a 7.50 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Tankersley has now pitched in 168 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 8-3 with 4 saves, a 4.58 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP.

29-year old righty Blaine Boyer pitched in 54 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 3-2 with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He has now pitched in 228 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 9-12 with 1 save, a 4.63 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.

30-year old lefty Justin Hampson used to be a pretty good pitcher but he has battled injuries the last two years. He pitched in 15 games (0 starts) in the Independent League last year and he was 1-0 with 1 save, a 6.20 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors in 2008 with the Padres. He has now pitched in 79 games (1 start) in his first three years in the majors and he is 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Hampson could really surprise in 2011 if he can get and stay healthy in 2011.

31-year old righty Ryota Igarashi was supposed to be a stud for the Mets in 2010 but he was a dud. He pitched in 34 games (0 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 1-1 with a 7.12 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. His main issue was his control as he walked 18 batters in only 30 1/3 innings last year and that was way too many. Look for the Mets to only promote Igarashi if all else fails in 2011.

29-year old righty Boof Bonser is going to start the 2011 season in the minors. Bonser pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the A’s & Red Sox last year and he was 1-0 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He has now pitched in 111 games (60 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 19-25 with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Bonser has a good arm but he just has never learned to pitch.

26-year old righty Tobi Stoner just doesn’t have the faith of the Mets’ front office. He pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Stoner has now pitched in 5 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Mets and he is 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.

30-year old righty Dale Thayer might get a chance with the Mets at some point in 2011. Thayer pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 0-0 with a 27.00 ERA and a 3.50 WHIP. He also pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 4-1 with 3 saves, a 3.45 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Thayer has now pitched in 12 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 7.47 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP.

33-year old lefty Casey Fossum is a longshot to help the Mets in 2011. He pitched in 12 games (all starts) for Hanshin in Japan and he was 2-5 with a 5.72 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Fossum last pitched in 2009 with the Mets. Fossum has pitched in 237 games (120 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 40-53 with 2 saves, a 5.45 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE METS BULLPEN IN 2011: B-

32-year old lefty Johan Santana is the ace of the Mets’ pitching staff when healthy, but, he’s likely going to miss at least the first three months of the 2011 season as he is rehabbing from shoulder surgery. There have been whispers that he could miss the entire season which would be a huge blow to the Mets. Santana started 29 games for the Mets last season and he was 11-9 with a 2.98 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has now started 88 games in his first three years with the Mets and he is 40-25 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. The Mets are really going to miss him.

27-year old righty Mike Pelfrey will likely be the Mets’ #1 starter when the 2011 season begins. He pitched in 34 games (33 starts) for the Mets last season and he was 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Pelfrey has now pitched in 116 games (113 starts) in his first five years with the Mets and he is 43-41 with 1 save, a 4.31 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The Mets need Pelfrey to pitch like he did last season but it’s not a given because he has been very inconsistent from year to year so far in his career.

36-year old righty knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will likely be the Mets’ #2 starter in 2011. He pitched in 27 games (26 starts) for the Mets last season and he was 11-9 with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has now pitched in 171 games (74 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 33-37 with 2 saves, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The Mets really hope that Dickey has turned the corner in his career because he has never been anywhere near as good as the stats he put up in 2010.

24-year old lefty Jonathan Niese will likely be the #3 starter for the Mets in 2011. Niese started 30 games for the Mets last season and he was 9-10 with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He has now pitched in 38 games (all starts) in his first 3 years with the Mets and he is 11-12 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. The Mets hope that Niese can take a step forward in 2011 because he’s a very talented pitcher.

31-year old righty Chris Young was signed over the winter. He’s a solid starting pitcher when healthy, which hasn’t been much as of late. Young started 4 games for the Padres last season and he was 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He has now started 135 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 48-34 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. If Young is healthy, he will be one of the top starters on the Mets in 2011.

32-year old lefty Chris Capuano will also have a good shot of winning a starting job in 2011 with the Mets if he can stay healthy. Capuano pitched in 24 games (9 starts) for the Brewers last season and he was 4-4 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He has now pitched in 148 games (125 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 46-52 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Just like Chris Young, Capuano can really help the Mets in 2011 if he can just stay healthy.

24-year old righty Dillon Gee comes into this season as the Mets’ #16 prospect heading into Baseball America. Gee looked great in a late season audition for the Mets last year. Gee started 5 games for the Mets last season and he was 2-2 with a 2.18 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He also started 28 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 13-8 with a 4.96 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. I could see Gee winning a job at the back end of the rotation in 2011 for the Mets.

29-year old lefty Oliver Perez might be running out of time with the Mets. Perez pitched in 17 games (7 starts) for the Mets last season and he was 0-5 with a 6.80 ERA and a 2.07 WHIP. He walked 42 batters in only 46 1/3 innings last season which is pathetic. Perez has now pitched in 101 games (91 starts) in his first five years with the Mets and he is 29-29 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.

21-year old righty Jenrry Mejia comes into this season as the Mets’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America. He made the Mets’ opening day pitching staff last season but he was working out of the pen. The Mets decided to send him back to the minors to work on being a starter. Mejia pitched in 33 games (3 starts) for the Mets last season and he was 0-4 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He also pitched in 9 games (all starts) in Rookie+A+AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 2-0 with a 1.28 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Look for Mejia to be one of the first guys called up when the Mets need a starting pitcher in 2011.

29-year old lefty Pat Misch always seems to get some starts for the Mets. He pitched in 12 games (6 starts) for the Mets last season and he was 0-4 with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Misch has now pitched in 34 games (13 starts) in his first two years with the Mets and he is 3-8 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE METS STARTING PITCHERS IN 2011: C-

33-year old switch hitting Carlos Beltran is moving to right field for the 2011 season due to knee issues. Beltran played in 64 games for the Mets last season and he was 56 of 220 (.255 avg, .768 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 7 homers, 27 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Beltran has missed a lot of P.T. due to injuries the last two years but the Mets hope that’s in his past. From 2005-2008, Beltran averaged 102.3 runs scored, 29.3 homers, 104.5 RBIs and 20.8 stolen bases per year. Even if Beltran is healthy in 2011, I have doubts that he will get back to being the player he once was for the Mets. Beltran should be a good RF defensively for the Mets in 2011. He played in 61 games in CF for the Mets last season and he had 0 errors and 4 assists while showing average range.

32-year old lefty swinging Willie Harris could win the backup job in RF for the Mets in 2011. Harris played in 132 games for the Nationals last season and he was 41 of 224 (.183 avg, .653 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 10 homers, 32 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Harris has a career batting average of .239 with a .679 OPS in his first 10 years in the majors, so his bat should rebound in 2011. Harris had 1 error in 43 games in RF last season while showing excellent range, but he didn’t have any assists as his arm is pretty weak for RF.

31-year old lefty swinging Pedro Feliciano played in 54 games for the Mets last season and he was 25 of 108 (.231 avg, .563 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He also played in 89 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 114 of 336 (.339 avg, .793 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 1 homer, 28 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Feliciano didn’t make any errors last season in 14 games in RF while showing out of this world range. He is a longshot this spring to break camp with the Mets.

22-year old lefty swinging Fernando Martinez comes into this season as the Mets’ #8 prospect according to Baseball America. Martinez played in 7 games for the Mets last season and he was 3 of 18 (.167 avg, .439 OPS) with 1 run scored and 2 RBIs. He also played in 75 games in A+AAA-ball last season and he was 69 of 272 (.254 avg, .765 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 12 homers, 33 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Martinez played in 2 error-free games for the Mets in RF last year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE METS RF IN 2011: B