The Power of Odd (Numbers): A Baseball + Chess Thought Experiment

Hey Impressive Chessers!

One of my favorite pastimes is to think. I know, this probably isn't that surprising because I'm a chess player. But I’m not just talking about thinking in the “I’m calculating 5 moves ahead” kind of way. I mean thought experiments, little mental playgrounds where I explore how things might work better. I imagine a world where we’re not stuck in inefficient systems just because “that’s how it’s always been.”--I really hate that phrase

And lately, that curiosity hit one of my other great passions: sports.

My Athletic Backstory 

Before I knew what a skewer or a zugzwang was, I was already knee-deep in cleats and courts. My dad had me playing baseball, soccer (okay fine, “football” if you’re reading this outside the U.S.), and basketball by age four. That was also when he taught me how to move the chess pieces.

Later, I swapped baseball and soccer for water polo and swimming while keeping basketball in the rotation. I even had a brief moment with football, but quickly learned that I don’t like getting hit 😓

Suffice it to say, sports came first in my life... but chess stuck longest.

A Baseball Thought Experiment

Let’s talk about Major League Baseball (MLB). As much as I love it and I’m a devoted (and emotionally weathered) Angels Fan I think the 162-game regular season is just too much.

Think about it:

• Games are being played deep into October and even November.

• That’s not ideal for a sport designed for warm weather and open-air stadiums.

• Cold weather decreases ball flight and increases injury risk; especially for pitchers.

So I came up with an idea to overhaul the entire MLB season and playoff structure.

Strap in.

MLB 2.0: Craig’s Restructure Plan

Regular Season: 74 Games (Not 162!)

Here’s how the new schedule would look:

• Each team plays its division opponents 6 times (3 home, 3 away).

• Each team plays every other team 2 times (1 home, 1 away).

That’s 74 total games a tight, meaningful season. No more meaningless August matchups between 20-games-back teams with Triple-A call-ups nobody’s heard of.

🗂️ Division Reboot + No More AL/NL

The historical distinction between the American League (AL) and National League (NL) is mostly symbolic now that the DH is universal. So, let’s make it official: one unified league with new, geographically reasonable divisions.

The Playoffs: Everyone’s In…With a Twist

Yes, all 30 teams make the playoffs. But success in the regular season comes with big rewards.

• Teams are seeded 1 through 30 based on record.

• They’re divided into six groups of five for Round 1.

• All games in each group are played at the home ballpark of the best team in that group (i.e. the division winner).

Each team in the group plays 4 games, one against each opponent.

The Power of Odd Numbers

Here’s where the fun begins.
With 5 teams per group, one team sits out each day. For 5 days straight, we get 2 games per group, per day.

The highest seed in the group gets to pick their day off first, then the next seed, and so on. This setup rewards regular-season performance and ensures daily playoff drama across the country.

It’s the power of odd numbers, oddly 😜 satisfying, right?

Round 2: Only the Top 10 Survive

From Round 1, the best-performing 10 teams advance. They’re re-seeded 1 through 10.

• Two new groups of 5 are formed.

• Same structure: 4 games per team, all played at the top seed’s home park.

Rounds 3 & 4: Classic Format Returns

If baseball traditionalists have made it this far, good news! You made it to familiar territory.

• Semifinals and Finals (aka the World Series) are best-of-7 matchups.

• Higher seed gets 4 home games, lower seed gets 3.

• Just like it is today (as of July 18, 2025).

A Chess Thought Experiment

And since we’re on chess.com, let’s tie it back to the royal game.

Random Puzzle #1🚨

Imagine applying this “odd number advantage” to the Candidates Tournament. Traditionally it’s 8 players and includes scheduled rest days. But what if we:

• Add the World Champion (currently Gukesh D) to the field?

• Now we have 9 players, an odd number.

• Each day, 3 games are played while 3 players rest.

The World Champion, seeded #1, gets every possible advantage:

• Chooses when to play White, Black, or take byes.

• Ties go in favor of higher seed.

• All players know the seeding system and stakes from Day 1.

At the end, the top two finishers face off in a match for the World Championship, at a later date.

This would eliminate:

• Awkward rest days (3 byes built in!)

• Fan confusion over tie-break procedures

• And most importantly…the Champion not participating until the very end

Random Puzzle #2 🚨

Potential Benefits

For Baseball

• Shorter season = less fatigue and injury

• All teams involved = more fan engagement (even in late September)

• Home-field advantage = meaningful regular season

• Playoff drama = 5 days of guaranteed action per group

For Chess

• Daily games = no more “rest day blues”

• Built-in fairness = everyone has the same number of games and byes

• Higher stakes = World Champion must defend early and often

Random Puzzle #3 🚨

Potential Pitfalls

For Baseball

• Purist backlash – Changing the format (and shortening the season) may not sit well with traditionalists

• Logistical nightmares – Hosting multiple teams at one stadium could be chaotic

• Loss of revenue – 74 games instead of 162 = fewer ticket sales

For Chess

• Prestige debate – Some might argue the Champion shouldn’t have to qualify

• Tie-break favoritism – Giving higher seeds an advantage might feel unfair to some

Final Thoughts

Whether you love chess, baseball, or both, the core idea is this:
Don’t be afraid to rethink the rules.
Great systems weren’t born perfect. They were refined by thinkers, experimenters, and rule-breakers.

Now if only the Angels could think their way into the playoffs...😓

What do you think?

Would you watch this version of the MLB playoffs?
Should chess adopt the odd-number tournament format?
Which sport needs a shake-up next?

Drop a comment below. I’d love to hear your own thoughts and/or thought experiments!

🛑 Just a quick note: This is a family-friendly blog, so please keep comments respectful and free from insults or inappropriate language. Thoughtful disagreement is always welcome! Name-calling and trash talk, not so much.

Thanks for keeping this a fun and positive space for chess lovers, sports fans, and deep thinkers alike. And as always...

…Stay impressive!
OLM/NM Craig C.
linktr.ee/ChessToImpress