Has there ever been a first-place team that seems to be in as much trouble as the Red Sox?

This week alone, they dropped two-of-three to a mediocre Detroit team, watched Tim Wakefield leave the game after taking a liner off the shin and watched Keith Foulke leave a simulated game after taking a liner off the elbow. They said goodbye to 2004 playoff hero Mark Bellhorn, whose disappointing Red Sox season ended when he was designated for assignment.

Still, the biggest concern for Red Sox Nation is the bullpen. Entering Friday’s game, Red Sox relievers had allowed 42 percent of all inherited runners to score – the worst percentage in Major League baseball. Relief pitching has been a problem all year, but a weak pen (5.17 ERA entering August) has gotten downright brutal (6.75 ERA in August going into Friday’s game).

If not for the team’s major-league leading offense, this would be the top story of the summer.

The front office may not need to look far to find help. Craig Hansen is pitching very well for AA Portland. In five appearances with the Sea Dogs, the first-round pick has yet to give up a run. He struck out five of the first 15 batters he faced.

Reports on Hansen have been overwhelmingly positive. One member of the Red Sox front office says there are no plans to promote him to Triple A, and that he could be thrown into the fire of an AL East division race after this weekend.

Don’t be surprised to see him – with seven pro appearances in his life – join the team in Kansas City. He’s been throwing 97 mph, a sinking fastball that’s hard for hitters to drive deep.

It wasn’t that long ago, while Hansen was still unsigned, that fans spoke of him closing games this summer. That projection might not have been so far-fetched after all. For a bullpen that’s been fighting to keep the ball in the yard, Hansen could be the perfect addition.

This is heady stuff from a guy who just signed his first pro contract July 25.

Theo Epstein and company have worked hard to bolster the staff. They’ve acquired Mike Remlinger, Ricky Bottalico and Matt Perisho since the July 31 trading deadline. All three have struggled, and the Sox are hoping they can become productive pitchers and add depth to the Sox staff.

Remlinger has been given a chance to do that in the past week.

Terry Francona tried to ease the local product back into action Tuesday night after the Sox put seven runs up on the board in the 11th. That was after Remlinger failed to record an out in his first two appearances. It was a noble effort, and it seemed to be working when Remlinger got two quick outs. Then came trouble: Remlinger gave up two walks and a base hit before a grand slam that brought the Tigers back within three.

Remlinger got the final out to end the game, lowering his ERA from infinity to 54.00.

The 39-year old has accomplished plenty in his 14 major league seasons, pitching for five division winners and making 26 post-season appearances. Experience counts, but young pitchers like Hansen, Jonathan Papelbon, and Manny Delcarmen may have a lot more to do with Boston’s stretch run.

The future is happening before our very eyes, and it’s hard not to like what we’re seeing from these young arms.

Lewiston native Tom Caron is a studio host for Red Sox telecasts on NESN.