Without George to appreciate it, the Yankees are the hottest team in exhibition baseball

Whoopie. We won again last night. Beat the Miami Dolphins 5-2. We won't win Grapefruit League rings: That's Toronto. But with 12 wins in the last 14 non-games, we're pleasuring the ghost of George.

In fact, let's ponder how George would have reacted to the last few weeks.

Pineda: By now, he would be screaming. Cashman would have been summoned, yelled-at, and publicly put on double-secret probation. From the git-go, Pineda might have been called a "fat toad." By now, George would be railing about his "baseball people," and Reggie would be noting his doubts about the deal to begin with.

Andy: George would have hosted the announcement, during a game, from his box. George would have told everyone how he personally coaxed Andy back. By now, Roger Clemens would be on the phone to Tampa, twice a day.

Joba: In the first few hours of the tragedy, George would have rallied behind Joba, stating that Joba would have a job for life, on track to become a coach or alcoholic Yankee-hanger-on. After it became clear that Joba was coming back, George would complain about the money he was shelling out.

Ibanez: Not an issue. Our lefty DH would be Johnny Damon.