R.A. Dickey began the year as one of the first spring-training reassignments to minor league camp. He ended it with an 11-9 record and 2.86 ERA with the Mets. And he's poised to be an integral part of the 2011 rotation. The knuckleballer is arbitation eligible for one final year and is under the Mets' control for next season.

Dickey ended up tossing 234 innings between Triple-A Buffalo and the Mets. His ERA ranks seventh in the National League, behind Josh Johnson, Adam Wainwright, Roy Halladay, Jaime Garcia, Roy Oswalt and Tim Hudson.

"I feel like I've learned that I can contribute in a way that may have superseded what I even thought I could," Dickey said. "I felt like I was capable of really being consistent and doing well. I feel like I can do more, like this doesn't have to be the anomaly. I feel like this can be what I have to offer consistently over the next five to six years of my career."

Dickey said he embraced pitching in New York, and sensed the fans reciprocated by embracing him.

"People in the stands can probably relate," Dickey said. "They probably think they can get out there and throw 75 mph and get people out. There is a connection there. They probably can relate to me. ... It's hard to throw Bobby Parnell's 102 mph, but everybody can throw a knuckleball."