Hall of Famer Jim Palmer visited Phillies camp in Clearwater Tuesday and discussed Philadelphia’s star studded rotation with Manager Charlie Manuel.  Naturally, the comparison between Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels to Baltimore’s four twenty game winners in 1971, Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar and Pat Dobson was discussed.

Palmer told MLB.com that he recognizes that the game has changed in the 40 years since Baltimore’s four twenty winners took the mound, but that he has great respect for the rotation Philadelphia has put together.

“I don’t know if they can all win 20, because you get relieved and it is the National League and you don’t have the DH. It was a pretty special time for us, but it’s just a comfortable situation, because if you don’t win on Monday, you know the guys are going to be pick you up on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or whatever the case may be. It’s a lot easier to go out and compete.”

Manuel and Palmer were asked which rotation is better.

“It doesn’t matter. They’re both great,” Palmer said.

If Philadelphia achieves the feat, they will likely do so with 12 less starts, as Baltimore’s four man rotation combined for 142 starts with three other Orioles pitchers starting in 16 games. Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Hamels will probably see just 130 starts and as Palmer points out, will have the help of their bullpen.

“Earl used to tell us, ‘There’s nobody better out there, so don’t be looking out to the bullpen,'” Palmer said in Todd Zolecki’s article on MLB.com.

Do you think baseball will ever see another rotation will four twenty game winners?