Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365

Rookies and science fiction films are both excellent syntheses of our presents and futures. They both unite meditations on our present situations with speculations on how those situations can change...for the worse or the better. So here is my list of the ten best prospects in each league with significant chances to contribute to their teams this year. I've also provided a list of my ten greatest Science Fiction films. If anyone cares to contribute their favorite Sci-fi films, feel free to define Sci-fi as you see fit.

Top NL Rookies
1. Kris Bryant, 3B, CHC--Best pure hitting prospect of the millennium is definitely ready.
2. Jorge Soler, Rf, CHC--Prototypical Right fielder showed last year he's ready.
3. Joc Pederson, Cf, LAD--Five-tooled player is expected to top Kemp's recent production.
3. Yasmany Tomas, 3b, ARI--Powerful Cuban expected to help protect Goldschmidt.
5. Aaron Nola, Sp, PHI--Last year's LSU star is already ready for Phillies, should join them soon.
6. Noah Syndergaard, Sp, NYM--Hard thrower should get call soon, despite command issues.
7. Hector Olivera, 3b, LAD--Talented Cuban 2B should supplant Uribe at 3B soon. LA isn't paying him to sit.
8. Eddie Butler, Sp, COL, Fireballer should move into Rockie's rotation soon. Jon Gray will follow soon.
9. Jung Ho-Kang, Ss, PIT, Will either supplant Mercer at SS or replace Harrison as super UT.
10. Anthony Desclafani, Sp, CIN--Tough, crafty competitor was the main return for Latos.

Top AL Rookies
1. Rusney Castillo, Cf, BOS--4-tool player--average arm--is ready to man center for BoSox.
2. Steven Souza, Cf/Rf, TB--26-7ear-old power hitter will finally get his chance with Rays.
3. Aaron Sanchez, P, TOR--Hard thrower could close or start for Jays. Showed last year he's ready.
4. Carlos Rodon, SP, CWS--Last year's college star is already ready to join Sale at top of ChiSox rotation.
5. Dalton Pompey, CF, TOR--Prototypical speedy leadoff/CF type should get lots of time in CF for Jays.
6. Andrew Heaney, SP, LAA--Twice-traded crafty lefty should break Angels rotation early.
7 .Daniel Norris, SP, TOR--Fireballing lefty should join Jays' rotation early in the season.
8. Francisco Lindor, SS, CLE--Defensive whiz with some pop should supplant Ramirez soon. Future Gold Glover.
9. Brandon Finnegan, P, KC--Diminutive but hard-throwing lefty will be back up in KC soon in rotation or pen.
10.Kendall Graveman, SP, TOR--Crafty pitchability starter is the kind of efficient player Beane likes.

Greatest Science Fiction Movies
1. Blade Runner. Ridley Scott's beautiful, existential classic re-defined the Sci-Fi aesthetic.
2. 2001--Kubrick's surreal masterpiece did the same 50 years ago. It still resonates.
3. Minority Report--Spielberg's masterpiece fully brought Philip K. Dick's visionary visions to screen.
4. Solaris--Tarkovsky's (not Soderbergh's) elegant adaptation of Stanislaw Lem's profound novel.
5. The Empire Strikes Back--Easily the best of the trilogy, it married tragic themes with true Sci-fi tropes.
6. Aliens--Alien was pure horror, this awesome action flick was an excellent "version" of Starship Troopers.
7. Primer--The best time-travel film ever is the only one to take its repercussions literally.
8. Her--Beautiful commentary on love and existence in the Digital age and all ages.
9. The Matrix--Brilliantly married William Gibson aesthetics and themes with Post-Marxist philosophy.
10. The Terminator--Relentless and wonderfully grim Sci-Noir announced Cameron as a master.

1. Star Wars
2. The Empire Strikes Back
3. Return of the Jedi
4. 12 Monkeys
5. Lord of The Rings
6. The Hobbit
7. Blade Runner
8. E.T.
9. Limitless
10. Gattica

Radagast Brown wrote:1. Star Wars
2. The Empire Strikes Back
3. Return of the Jedi
4. 12 Monkeys
5. Lord of The Rings
6. The Hobbit
7. Blade Runner
8. E.T.
9. Limitless
10. Gattica

Empire dwarfs Jedi and even the first Star Wars imo, I like your addition of 12 monkeys, that was a good one. Didn't see Limitless or Gattica, might have to check them out...

NIce list enjoy the ones I've seen a lot. Haven't seen Primer or Her, but as you have them ahead of 2 of my faves in Terminator and The Matrix I'll have to check them out...

Not nearly as serious or classic as those already listed, but Serenity and Donnie Darkko are worth a watch. I feel like I have to consider the opening salvo of the re-imagined Battlestar Gallictica, which is really more of a miniseries, a movie just so I can get one of the best sci fi shows ever made out their for consideration

l.strether wrote:Rookies and science fiction films are both excellent syntheses of our presents and futures. They both unite meditations on our present situations with speculations on how those situations can change...for the worse or the better. So here is my list of the ten best prospects in each league with significant chances to contribute to their teams this year. I've also provided a list of my ten greatest Science Fiction films. If anyone cares to contribute their favorite Sci-fi films, feel free to define Sci-fi as you see fit.

Top NL Rookies
1. Kris Bryant, 3B, CHC--Best pure hitting prospect of the millennium is definitely ready.
2. Jorge Soler, Rf, CHC--Prototypical Right fielder showed last year he's ready.
3. Joc Pederson, Cf, LAD--Five-tooled player is expected to top Kemp's recent production.
3. Yasmany Tomas, 3b, ARI--Powerful Cuban expected to help protect Goldschmidt.
5. Aaron Nola, Sp, PHI--Last year's LSU star is already ready for Phillies, should join them soon.
6. Noah Syndergaard, Sp, NYM--Hard thrower should get call soon, despite command issues.
7. Hector Olivera, 3b, LAD--Talented Cuban 2B should supplant Uribe at 3B soon. LA isn't paying him to sit.
8. Eddie Butler, Sp, COL, Fireballer should move into Rockie's rotation soon. Jon Gray will follow soon.
9. Jung Ho-Kang, Ss, PIT, Will either supplant Mercer at SS or replace Harrison as super UT.
10. Anthony Desclafani, Sp, CIN--Tough, crafty competitor was the main return for Latos.

Top AL Rookies
1. Rusney Castillo, Cf, BOS--4-tool player--average arm--is ready to man center for BoSox.
2. Steven Souza, Cf/Rf, TB--26-7ear-old power hitter will finally get his chance with Rays.
3. Aaron Sanchez, P, TOR--Hard thrower could close or start for Jays. Showed last year he's ready.
4. Carlos Rodon, SP, CWS--Last year's college star is already ready to join Sale at top of ChiSox rotation.
5. Dalton Pompey, CF, TOR--Prototypical speedy leadoff/CF type should get lots of time in CF for Jays.
6. Andrew Heaney, SP, LAA--Twice-traded crafty lefty should break Angels rotation early.
7 .Daniel Norris, SP, TOR--Fireballing lefty should join Jays' rotation early in the season.
8. Francisco Lindor, SS, CLE--Defensive whiz with some pop should supplant Ramirez soon. Future Gold Glover.
9. Brandon Finnegan, P, KC--Diminutive but hard-throwing lefty will be back up in KC soon in rotation or pen.
10.Kendall Graveman, SP, TOR--Crafty pitchability starter is the kind of efficient player Beane likes.

Greatest Science Fiction Movies
1. Blade Runner. Ridley Scott's beautiful, existential classic re-defined the Sci-Fi aesthetic.
2. 2001--Kubrick's surreal masterpiece did the same 50 years ago. It still resonates.
3. Minority Report--Spielberg's masterpiece fully brought Philip K. Dick's visionary visions to screen.
4. Solaris--Tarkovsky's (not Soderbergh's) elegant adaptation of Stanislaw Lem's profound novel.
5. The Empire Strikes Back--Easily the best of the trilogy, it married tragic themes with true Sci-fi tropes.
6. Aliens--Alien was pure horror, this awesome action flick was an excellent "version" of Starship Troopers.
7. Primer--The best time-travel film ever is the only one to take its repercussions literally.
8. Her--Beautiful commentary on love and existence in the Digital age and all ages.
9. The Matrix--Brilliantly married William Gibson aesthetics and themes with Post-Marxist philosophy.
10. The Terminator--Relentless and wonderfully grim Sci-Noir announced Cameron as a master.

twinsfan wrote:NIce list enjoy the ones I've seen a lot. Haven't seen Primer or Her, but as you have them ahead of 2 of my faves in Terminator and The Matrix I'll have to check them out...

Not nearly as serious or classic as those already listed, but Serenity and Donnie Darkko are worth a watch. I feel like I have to consider the opening salvo of the re-imagined Battlestar Gallictica, which is really more of a miniseries, a movie just so I can get one of the best sci fi shows ever made out their for consideration

Both Primer and Her are excellent. As I mentioned in my list, Primer is both the greatest time-travel film ever--including Back to the Future and Looper--and is the first film to really take time travel scientifically and philosophically seriously. A caveat before watching though: watch very carefully and attentively. Without giving too much away, the time-travel aspect splinters reality leading to a very complex narrative. It will probably demand multiple viewings, but it's worth it.

Her is truly a lovely film, as much so as it is profound. If you enjoyed Being John Malkovich or Adaptation, you will appreciate Jonze's direction. And if you've ever dated in the digital age--I got married before the Match.com and Tinder--you will particularly appreciate it.

As to Donnie Darko and Serenity, I'm a fan of both. Darko is one of those singular movies that has it's own unique mood, which can be particularly heightened by herbal enhancement. I also think it used wormholes better and more creatively than Interstellar. As a fan of Firefly, I obviously enjoyed Serenity, and thought Whedon did a sound job of bringing it to the big screen.