The Pirates got decent work from their starting rotation in 2011, but they are hoping for improvement out of this bunch. Here is a look at the starting rotation for 2012 as things stand right now:

#1: Erik Bedard: The Pirates signed 32-year old lefty Erik Bedard to a 1-year deal over the winter. He pitched in 24 games (all starts) for the Mariners and Red Sox last year and he was 5-9 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Bedard has now pitched in 168 games (165 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 56-50 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Bedard is a very solid pitcher, but, he has only started 30 or more games once (2006 with the Orioles) in his first 8 years in the majors.

#2: Kevin Correia: 31-year old righty Kevin Correia started out last season like a ball of fire for the Pirates as he made the All-Star team, but he faded badly in the second half of the year. Correia pitched in 27 games (26 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 12-11 with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Correia has now pitched in 258 games (131 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 48-54 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Pirates hope that Correia is more like he was in the first half of the 2011 season in 2012.

#3: Charlie Morton: 28-year old righty Charlie Morton really had a solid year in 2011 for the Pirates. He pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 10-10 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Morton has now pitched in 64 games (all starts) in his first three years with the Pirates and he is 17-31 with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He has now pitched in 80 games (79 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 21-39 with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. The Pirates hope that Morton turned the corner last season and keeps improving in 2012.

#4: James McDonald: 27-year old righty James McDonald had a so-so year for the Pirates in 2011. He pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 9-9 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. McDonald has now pitched in 42 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Pirates and he is 14-14 with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. McDonald has the potential to win 15 games in the near future, if he gets his act together.

#5: Jeff Karstens: 29-year old righty Jeff Karstens had by far the best year in his major league career in 2011. Karstens pitched in 30 games (26 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 9-9 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has now pitched in 104 games (67 starts) in his first four years with the Pirates and he is 18-31 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Karstens has now pitched in 119 games (76 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 21-36 with a 4.52 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. The Pirates would be ecstatic if Karstens could repeat his 2011 production in 2012.

Brad Lincoln: 26-year old righty Brad Lincoln will likely be the first guy the Pirates call on if something happens to one of the other starters. Lincoln pitched in 12 games (8 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 2-3 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He has now pitched in 23 games (17 starts) in his first two years with the Pirates and he is 3-7 with a 5.74 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. The Pirates still like Lincoln, but he needs to pitch better when he gets the chance in 2012.

Jeff Locke: 24-year old righty Jeff Locke got a rude introduction to the show last year. He pitched in 4 games (all starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 0-3 with a 6.48 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. Locke also pitched in 28 games (27 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 8-10 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Locke will likely get another shot for the Pirates in 2012, so he better be ready.

Jo-Jo Reyes: 27-year old lefty Jo-Jo Reyes is a longshot to make the Pirates’ starting rotation. He pitched in 29 games (25 starts) for the Blue Jays and Orioles last year and he was 7-11 with a 5.57 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Reyes has now pitched in 70 games (62 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 12-26 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. If Reyes is starting games for the Pirates in 2012, something has gone horribly wrong for them.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: C

The Pittsburgh Pirates hired 53-year old manager Clint Hurdle to give the team a new look in 2011. Hurdle last managed in the majors back in 2009 with the Rockies. He was fired that year after leading the Rockies to a 18-28 (39.1%) record. Hurdle now has a 534-625 (46.1%) record in his first 8 years during the regular season as a major league manager. Hurdle also had a 7-4 (63.6%) record during his career in the post season. Hurdle is a tough guy which is the kind of manager the young Pittsburgh Pirates need in 2011 and beyond.

29-year old righty Joel Hanrahan is likely going to start the 2011 season as the Pirates’ stopper. Hanrahan pitched in 72 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 4-1 with 6 saves, a 3.62 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He only gave up 58 hits in 69 2/3 innings last season while whiffing 100 batters, which shows just how nasty he can be. He has now pitched in 105 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Pirates and he is 4-2 with 6 saves, a 3.03 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.

27-year old righty Evan Meek will either be the set-up man or closer for the Pirates in 2011. Meek pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 5-4 with 4 saves, a 2.14 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Meek only gave up 53 hits in 80 innings for the Pirates last year as he was flat out nasty in 2010. Meek has now pitched in 120 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Pirates and he is 6-6 with 4 saves, a 3.02 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

33-year old lefty Joe Beimel will likely start the 2011 season on the D.L. The Pirates hope he gets back into action soon because they need him. Beimel pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 1-2 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. In his first three years with the Pirates, Beimel has worked in 164 games (23 starts) in which he is 10-19 with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Beimel is a much better pitcher than he was the first time around with the Pirates.

30-year old righty Jose Veras will likely be one of the Pirates’ top middle relievers in 2011. Veras pitched in 48 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 3-3 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He has now pitched in 176 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 12-9 with 3 saves, a 4.24 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Veras has a really good arm and he should be able to have a decent year for the Pirates in 2011.

28-year old righty Chris Resop really pitched well for the Pirates last year and they hope it wasn’t a mirage. Resop pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 0-0 with a 1.89 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He only gave up 10 hits while whiffing 24 batters in only 19 innings for the Pirates last year. Resop has now pitched in 80 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 3-3 with a 5.16 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. The Pirates hope that Resop is a late bloomer.

25-year old righty Sean Gallagher is back with the Pirates in 2011. He pitched in 31 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 2-1 with a 6.03 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Gallagher has now pitched in 91 games (23 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 10-10 with 1 save, a 5.64 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP.

25-year old righty reliever Jose Ascanio only pitched in 2 games (2 starts) in Rookie+A-ball last year and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He has 7 whiffs in only 3 innings in the minors last year. He last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the Pirates & Cubs. He has now pitched in 35 games (0 starts) in his first 3 years in the majors and he is 1-3 with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP.

26-year old lefty Donald Veal pitched in 9 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-2 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors back in 2009. Veal has pitched in 19 games (0 starts) in the majors and he is 1-0 with a 7.16 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP. He is a longshot to help the Pirates in 2011.

27-year old lefty Justin Thomas pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He has now pitched in 20 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA and a 2.18 WHIP. He will need to improve to get back to Pittsburgh in 2011.

26-year old righty Chris LeRoux pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 28 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-1 with a 7.67 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP. LeRoux is a big time longshot to help the Pirates in 2011.

33-year old righty Tyler Yates missed all of last year due to injury. He has pitched in 87 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Pirates and he is 6-5 with 1 save, a 5.06 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Yates might be able to help the Pirates in 2011 if he can get and stay healthy.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PIRATES BULLPEN IN 2011: B-

The Pirates have a lot of candidates for the starting rotation in 2011, but I don’t see any of them winning more than 12 games in 2011. 28-year old lefty Paul Maholm is probably the ace of the staff by default. He started 32 games for the Pirates last season and he was 9-15 with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Maholm has now started 159 games in his first six years with the Pirates and he is 47-59 with a 4.48 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He has only won 10 games once in his career so far so don’t set your hopes too high about him in 2011.

30-year old righty Kevin Correia got a nice free agent contract from the Pirates over the winter. Correia pitched in 28 games (26 starts) for the Padres last season and he was 10-10 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. He has now pitched in 231 games (105 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 36-43 with a 4.57 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Correia won’t be aided by a nice home field for a pitcher in 2011, so it’s hard to see him having a ton of success in 2011.

26-year old righty James McDonald had a nice upside. He came over in a deal with the Dodgers last season. He started 11 games for the Pirates last season and he was 4-5 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. McDonald pitched in 15 games (12 starts) overall for the Dodgers & Pirates last year and he was 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He has now pitched in 64 games (16 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 9-11 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. McDonald will likely be the best starting pitcher the Pirates will have in 2011.

28-year old righty Ross Ohlendorf will likely be the #4 starter for the Pirates in 2011. Ohlendorf started 21 games for the Pirates last season and he was 1-11 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. In his first three years with the Pirates, he has pitched in 55 games (all starts) in which he is 12-24 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Hopefully the Pirates will start supporting Ohlendorf better when he’s on the pitcher’s mound because his record is not indicative of how well he has pitched for them.

27-year old lefty Scott Olsen is trying to win the #5 job in the starting rotation this spring. Olsen pitched in 17 games (15 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 4-8 with a 5.56 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Olsen has now pitched in 130 games (127 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 37-49 with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. In his earlier days, he showed a lot of potential, so the Pirates are hoping that he can live up to that potential in 2011.

28-year old righty Daniel McCutchen took a step backward for the Pirates last season. He pitched in 28 games (9 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 2-5 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. McCutchen has now pitched in 34 games (15 starts) in his first 2 years with the Pirates and he is 3-7 with a 5.45 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He will likely have to step up big time in order for him to get another chance with the Pirates in 2011.

27-year old righty Charlie Morton took a GIGANTIC step backwards last season for the Pirates. He started 17 games for the Pirates last season and he was 2-12 with a 7.57 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. He has now pitched in 35 games (all starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 7-21 with a 5.91 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Morton will likely have to start the 2011 season in AAA-ball and work his way back to Pittsburgh.

25-year old righty Brad Lincoln was once one of the Pirates’ best prospects, so he will get a chance to prove himself at some point in 2011. Lincoln pitched in 11 games (9 starts) for the Pirates last season and he was 1-4 with a 6.66 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He also pitched in 17 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year in which he was 7-5 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Lincoln probably has one of the highest upsides of the starting pitchers in camp with the Pirates this spring.

29-year old lefty Brian Burres was not too good for the Pirates last year. Burres pitched in 20 games (13 starts) for the Pirates last season and he was 4-5 with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Burres has now pitched in 101 games (54 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 17-25 with a 5.83 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. If Burres is starting games for the Pirates in 2011, they are in big trouble.

28-year old righty Jeff Karstens will likely be a long man in the pen for the Pirates in 2011, but don’t be shocked to see him starting games at some point. He pitched in 26 games (19 starts) for the Pirates last season and he was 3-10 with a 4.92 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has now pitched in 74 games (41 starts) in his first three years with the Pirates and he is 9-22 with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.

28-year old righty Kevin Hart pitched in 5 games (4 starts) last season and he was 1-0 with 1 save, a 6.75 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the Pirates & Cubs. Hart has now pitched in 47 games (14 starts) in his first 3 years in the majors and he is 6-11 with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Hart has walked 66 batters in 119 2/3 innings so far this year, so don’t look for the Pirates to give him an extensive audition until he tightens up his control a little bit.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PIRATES STARTING ROTATION IN 2011: D-

29-year old lefty swinging Garrett Jones and 33-year old righty swinging Matt Diaz will likely be platooning in RF for the Pirates. I think they will be a very productive pairing in RF. Jones played in 158 games for the Pirates last season and he was 146 of 592 (.247 avg, .720 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 21 homers, 86 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. But, he struggled pretty badly against lefty pitching last season. Jones had 3 errors in 48 games in RF for the Pirates last season but he showed excellent range and he showed a strong throwing arm with 4 assists. Jones’ batting average and OPS will likely rise quite a bit in 2011.

Matt Diaz played in 84 games for the Braves last season and he was 56 of 224 (.250 avg, .739 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 7 homers, 31 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Diaz has a career batting average of .301 with a .806 OPS in his first 8 years in the majors. Diaz crushes lefty pitching so this should be a good pairing with Jones. Diaz didn’t play in RF at all last season. He played in 63 games in LF for the Braves last season and he only had 2 errors there while showing good range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PIRATES RF IN 2011: B