Baseball Prospectus Editor-In-Chief Craig Goldstein on analytics, baseball culture, and free agency

New host, TJ Void, talks about 90's summer jams with Ben, including how many hours he put into learning lyrics to Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Ben and TJ also continue the important conversation about the NFL ending race-norming and give their hot takes on the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Head Games is a podcast that covers current events in sports and how psychology can create a unique and enlightening perspective. Along with our guests, we provide professional psychological and sports perspectives that any fan can enjoy.   ✩ LISTEN ✩   SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVs APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh    ✩ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ✩   https://twitter.com/headgamespsych   ✩ BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us   --- Credits: Host: Ben Rosenberg and TJ Void Producer: Brett Glatman, Bret Levine, and Ben Rosenberg

This week Ben and TJ break down the 2021 NBA Playoffs.  ✩ LISTEN ✩ SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVs APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh ✩ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ✩ https://twitter.com/headgamespsych ✩ BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us --- Credits: Host: Ben Rosenberg & TJ Void Producer: Brett Glatman, Bret Levine, and Ben Rosenberg Editor: Brett Glatman

Welcome back to Head Games. In our first episodes with our friend and new rotating host, TJ Void, we hit some pretty heavy topics like how race has affected Justin Fields' draft position and why black athletes are now supposed to be advocates for a vaccine. Plus, we learn a few parenting tips from Ben and TJ.    ✩ LISTEN ✩   SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVs APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh    ✩ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ✩   https://twitter.com/headgamespsych ✩  BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us  ---  Credits: Host: Ben Rosenberg & TJ Void  Producer: Brett Glatman, Bret Levine, and Ben Rosenberg  Editor: Brett Glatman

Talking with USL Soccer Player Amobi Okuga, it's easy to see why he made the 2020 Forbes 30 under 30 list. On this episode of Head Games, we discuss Amobi's approach to making and saving money, why professional athletes go broke, and the pressure athletes face to keeping up with the Joneses.   Okuga's off-field ventures include The Frugal Athlete, which empowers athlete's to think smart about their finances, and OK U GO, a foundation he started to help give low-income youth financial empowerment tools.    00:55 | Why do athletes go broke?  02:55 | Combatting the pressure to live lavishly  07:30 | Financial goal setting for athletes  11:25 | Reframing the conversation about an athlete's spending  13:40 | Balancing running a business and being an athlete  18:50 | The future of athlete IP, who owns it?  20:00 | Plans for life after soccer  24:00 | Advice for current athletes   https://www.afrugalathlete.com/ | https://www.amobiokugo.com/foundation Social: IG - afrugalathlete | amobisays TW: @amobisays   Head Games is a podcast covering current events in sports and how psychology can create a unique and enlightening perspective. Along with our guests, we provide professional psychological and sports perspectives that any fan can enjoy.   ✩ LISTEN ✩   SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVs APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh    ✩ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ✩  https://twitter.com/headgamespsych  ✩ BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us   #Forbes #AmobiOkuga #Finances #Athletes --- Credits: Host: Bret Levine and Ben Rosenberg Producer: Brett Glatman PR & Social Media: Delaney Jobe Editor: Jakob Roston

On this episode of Head Games, we are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect DJ Peters to talk about his training and expectations for this season, team chemistry, baseball during COVID, cardboard fans, and his experience on the World Series Taxi Squad. We also bro down about his recent wedding. 00:30 Getting Married during COVID 02:40 Approach at the plate  05:20 Hitting of Mad Bum  07:20 Who do you model your game after?  09:10 Improving this year  11:10 Importance of culture  14:10 Dodgers team chemistry   17:55 Playing during COVID  20:00 Dodgers predictions     Head Games is a podcast that covers current events in sports and how psychology can create a unique and enlightening perspective. Along with our guests, we provide professional psychological and sports perspectives that any fan can enjoy.   ✩ LISTEN ✩   SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVs APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh    ✩ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ✩  https://twitter.com/headgamespsych ✩ BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us  ---  Credits: Host: Bret Levine and Ben Rosenberg Producer: Brett Glatman PR & Social Media: Delaney Jobe Editor: Jakob Roston

What's better than two sports junkies with Ph.D.'s? How about three! On today's show, we welcome Alex Auerbach, director of wellness and development for the Toronto Raptors, to talk about NBA vs. NFL player psychology, mental health, evaluating team chemistry, and the success of the Toronto Raptors.1:05 What does a director of counseling and wellness for the Raptors do? 6:10 Strategies of counseling in basketball vs. football 8:35 Teaching players resilience 13:35 Athletic, emotional regulation 21:15 Measuring athletic IQ 28:30 Using individual metrics to improve team play 30:40 Mental health and sports 41:40 Raptors team culture Follow Alex on Twitter at @AlexAuerbachPhD   Head Games is a podcast that covers current events in sports and how psychology can create a unique and enlightening perspective. Along with our guests, we provide professional psychological and sports perspectives that any fan can enjoy.   ✩ LISTEN ✩   SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVs APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh    ✩ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ✩   https://twitter.com/headgamespsych ✩ BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us --- Credits: Host: Bret Levine and Ben Rosenberg Producer: Brett Glatman PR & Social Media: Delaney Jobe Editor: Jakob Roston

Editor-in-chief Craig Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus joins us to discuss analytics, baseball losses, changing baseball culture, and the Hall of Fame. 02:00 | Improving analytics 17:40 | Losing Hank Aaron/2020 retrospective   27:40 | Changing Baseball Culture 37:09 | Ethics vs. business side of baseball 47:08 | Hall of Fame/Steroids 57:50 | Trevor Bauer and free agency   ✩ LISTEN ✩   SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVs APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh ✩ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ✩   https://twitter.com/headgamespsych ✩ BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us #Baseball #MLB #Analytics #TrevorBauer #HankAaron

We’re joined by Dr. Joris Drayer, an analytics and sports marketing expert who worked for the Moneyball A’s and founded the sports marketing program at Temple University, where he currently teaches. We talk about the A’s, Small Market teams, MLB over-under, Gambling, and the future of fandom.    00:46 | Working for the Moneyball A’s 03:13 | Research projects for the A’s on whether sacrifice bunts are worth it 05:56 | How do small market teams like the Rays and A’s compete? 09:10 | What is the future of small-market teams? 12:04 | Evaluating talent in the regular season vs. the playoffs   15:05 | Billy Bean leaving baseball 19:25 | Making baseball more appealing to fans 30:48 | Gambling’s effect on sports 33:04 | Which sport will gain the most from gambling? 35:34 | Quick MLB over under ✩ LISTEN ✩ SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVs APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh ✩ FOLLOW US ✩ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/headgamespsych INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/headgamespod/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HeadGamesPodcast ✩ BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

In this episode of Head Games, we are joined by WNBA superstar Napheesa Collier, along with 'Cousin' TJ Void, to discuss the WNBA, Kobe's legacy, Napheesa's 2019 Rookie of The Year win, and social justice. 1:00 Winning the WNBA Rookie of the Year 2:10 Training during COVID 3:55 Playing for Geno Auriemma at UCONN 6:50 Kobe and Gigi Bryant’s legacies on the WNBA 8:10 Team Chemistry in the WNBA 14:20 WNBA and Racial Justice Movement 17:40 Playing in France and Abroad 22:40 Quick hit psychology test Guest Twitter: @PHEESESPIECES @TJVOID ✩ LISTEN ✩ SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVs APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh ✩ FOLLOW US ✩ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/headgamespsych INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/headgamespod/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HeadGamesPodcast ✩ BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us --- #WNBA #BASKETBALL #NaphessaCollier #Kobe

We talk with MLB free agent Eric Sogard about his next destination, different team cultures and chemistry, and the effects of analytics on players. Nicknamed "Nerd Power" for his signature glasses, Eric has played in the MLB for 10 years, including stints with the A’s, Brewers, Blue Jays, and Rays. Twitter @EricSogard   2:00 - Playing as a platoon player  4:10 - Free agent landing spot Rorschach test  6:00 - Adopting kids, playing during COVID  8:15 - Attracting a younger audience to MLB 9:30 - Analytics effects on day to day game  11:20 - Balancing physical and mental game 15:50 - Locker room culture and mental health of different teams  17:25 - How important is team chemistry?  18:30 - Building team chemistry  19:50 Nerdiest baseball players   ✩ LISTEN ✩   SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2HNjhVsAPPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/39nk4rh   ✩ FOLLOW US ✩   TWITTER: https://twitter.com/headgamespsych  INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/headgamespod/  FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HeadGamesPodcast   ✩ BEN & BRET'S BLOG ✩   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us ---  #MLB #BASEBALL