As we prepare for the latest incursion by the senior blowhard of the Red Sox staff (cough, cough Curt Schilling, cough), with the latest Baseball-Reference preview, it’s hard not to turn the spotlight to one of his younger - much younger - teammates.

So far, Jacoby Ellsbury has been a hit with teammates and fans.

Jacoby Ellsbury has been as hot as nearly any big league hitter in both of his call-ups this season. Statistically, it’s undeniable. The only question is whether he can keep it up, and where the Sox can possibly find a spot for him if he does. Tonight that spot is No. 2, in this lineup:

Red Sox

1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Mike Lowell, 3B
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Alex Cora, 2B

SP - Curt Schilling

Blue Jays

1. Vernon Wells, CF
2. Matt Stairs, LF
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Frank Thomas, DH
5. Troy Glaus, 3B
6. Lyle Overbay, 1B
7. Aaron Hill, 2B
8. Gregg Zaun, C
9. John McDonald, SS

SP - Shaun Marcum

Ellsbury’s homer last night was his second in a Boston uni, tied for the number he put up as a member of the Portland Sea Dogs and PawSox prior to his arrival. With his speed and remarkably trusty glove, the youngster has been an absolute revelation, filling in a humongous chunk of the production lost with Manny Ramirez’s absence, while also solving many of the defensive problems often associated with Senor “Being”.

Still, that’s not the dilemma. What is an interesting conundrum is figuring out where Boston will put the Native American speedster when Manny returns. Not surprisingly, there’s a growing torch brigade campaigning for him to take over the everyday spot in right field.

That raises an interesting question all its own. Should the Sox A) Throw the $14 million man under the bus for one stretch drive? Or should they B) Stick with J.D. Drew as the everyday man and use Ellsbury as a pinch runner and sub extrordinaire?

The answer to that question is clearly A. And anyone willing to argue on Drew’s behalf clearly must be more than 100 miles away from the Boston metro area, otherwise they’d already be lynched.

Make no mistake, there’s little to no chance that Ellsbury can keep up his preposterous pace. He’s just not going to hit .430 people, it’s not going to happen. Now, that doesn’t mean that he won’t hit .300 or above, and it doesn’t mean that he won’t cause conniption fits whenever he reaches base, either.

And that’s the biggest reason to keep him in the lineup, at all costs. Ellsbury is the perfect, prototypical lead-off hitter the Sox have been desperate for all year. He’s exactly what Julio Lugo was supposed to be but hasn’t lived up to: a strong contact hitter who plays up to the stage on which he’s performing. He gets on base, he keeps rallies floating, he’s even used to hitting in front of perennial No. 2 man Dustin Pedroia.

Catches like this: Just another reason why Jacoby is an early fan favorite in the Hub.

So why not use the new No. 46 every day? We’ve got no answer for that. The question is whether Tito Francona and Theo Epstein will be able manufacture one. If their earlier full-court press for outfielder Jermaine Dye at the trade deadline is any indication, we’re betting that they won’t have one.

And that, in the end, may be the best Ellsbury development of all. Let the kid play. He may not hit every time, but he sure as hell is going to go down swinging while trying.

That’s a lot more than you can say for Drew.

– Cameron Smith