April 13 -- HAMELS: 'I LUCKED OUT'

Quick turnaround today, so we'll make this speedy. Besides, Shane Victorino is expected to be available shortly to offer an update on his strained right calf.

So, apparently, Cole Hamels is so good that he can allow one hit over seven innings against the Cubs even when he doesn't have his best stuff. Hamels gave up a lot of fly ball outs last night, and after the game, he basically said he got lucky that some didn't wind up on the other side of the short fences at the Bank. Regardless, Hamels was near-perfect (one hit, two walks). He threw 111 pitches and stretched his scoreless-innings streak to 13. And, through three starts, Hamels (2-1, 0.82 ERA) has been even more dominant than the past two NL Cy Young Award winners, San Diego's Jake Peavy (3-0, 1.64) and Arizona's Brandon Webb (3-0, 2.14).

Imagine how good Hamels will be when he starts pitched well.

"I've definitely been lucking out a lot," Hamels said. "I haven't really hit that groove. It's nice to know I'm still able to go out and challenge guys. I have guys so fooled and off-balance that it can allow me to get away with a poor game."

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Pitching coach Rich Dubee on Kyle Kendrick, who, for reasons passing understanding, tried to make strikeout pitches Wednesday night in New York instead of pitching to contact, the formula that worked so well for him last season: "Last year, I don't even think he knew where he was. He pitched in a blur last year. I wish last year never would've ended and he never would've reflected on what he did. We don't want him to change. Who he is, is what we want. We like Kyle to attack the strike zone, get all the ground balls he can get.

"He wants everything to be perfect when all he has to do is be the guy he was last year. Why change? I told him, it's like dating a pretty girl and bringing her a rose every night and having a great relationship, and then, he stopped bringing her the rose every night. Why change if things are working? Why complicate the matter? Hopefully, he brings the rose next time."

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Among other things, in our Sunday MLB notes, we examine Ed Wade's eight-year tenure as Phillies GM. Wade's new team, the Houston Astros, will be in town next week.

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Rumor has it that Geoff Jenkins -- yes Geoff Jenkins -- is batting leadoff today for the Phillies. Jenkins has never started a game in the leadoff spot during his 11-year career. Lineup hasn't been posted yet. We'll let you know as soon as it becomes official. Time to run downstairs. More later.