Red Sox engage in a 'burger brawl'

Had the 2011 Red Sox held a burger-building competition, it probably would've come down to a plain ol' patty against one embellished with but a single slice of American cheese -- both of which would've almost certainly left a terrible aftertaste.

Had the 2012 Red Sox held a burger-building competition, the finals probably would've pitted a poorly constructed slab that crumbled as soon as it hit the grill against some low-grade beef stuffed stubbornly into a wrap along with a collection of illogical condiments that don't taste good together.

However, the 2013 Red Sox -- the 15-7 Red Sox -- hold a burger-building competition, and the flavors are exciting. The ingredients are interesting, but thoughtful. The execution is impressive. The presentation is pretty.

The whole thing appears, well, fun.

Check it out in the RedSox.com video above, which shows Ryans Dempster and Lavarnway taking on Will Middlebrooks and Mike Napoli in the first episode of the inaugural "Burger Brawl" that the Sox filmed at JetBlue Park during spring training.

Working with Lavarnway's fiancee, the pitcher-catcher team dares to use ballpark foods, like peanuts and sunflower seeds, then plates its creation with a barbecue-sauce baseball so exquisitely crafted that Dempster deems Lavarnway the "da Vinci of putting baseballs on plates." Meanwhile, the infielders incorporate a couple different cheeses plus potatoes and an over-easy egg into their creation, which is finished with two minutes in the oven -- "no more, no less," notes Middlebrooks -- under the direction of the ballpark's chef.

The video ends just as the burgers are being served, so we'll have to stay tuned to find out who wins the duel. But in the meantime, you've got some ideas to take out to the grill with you this weekend. Perhaps while listening to the radio, and following along with an increasingly likable team.