George Steinbrenner emerged from behind the tinted windows of his car at 6:30 last night prior to his team’s game against the Blue Jays, with a smile on his face and a little hitch in his giddy-up.

The Boss was in a fine mood, fresh off winning the weekend series against the Yankees’ most hated enemies.

“It was a good weekend,” Steinbrenner said, his Yankees taking two of three games against the rival Red Sox.

The Boss was in such a swell state beforehand, even news that Kenny Lofton would be starting last night in right field – a position change he broiled Joe Torre for after Lofton, a natural center fielder, struggled in his first career start in right last month – was met with cheer.

Back pages told of Steinbrenner ripping Torre’s roster move last month when the owner said he never wanted to see Lofton in right again and that routine plays he botched out there would have easily been fielded by MVP-candidate Gary Sheffield. Sheffield was not in the lineup last night after receiving a pair of cortisone shots in his sore left shoulder Sunday, and Lofton was named the right field starter.

“Is he?” The Boss, eyebrows raised.

Yes. Does that enrage you, Mr. Steinbrenner?

“No, no. Not at all,” he said. Why not?

“Because Joe wants him there,” Steinbrenner reasoned. “Joe puts him there, Joe wants him there, that’s good enough for me.”

The Boss’ free pass was just the beginning of a very fortunate and forgiving night had by Lofton, who batted ninth in the lineup. In the field, Lofton was erroneously credited with a 9-3 double-play in the fifth inning when he made a diving backhand catch on Eric Hinske’s liner and threw out Alex Rios, who according to video replay actually got back in time, at first.