As The Stew has noted before about right-hander John Axford, he fancies himself a motion picture aficionado. A year ago, he correctly predicted 14 of 15 winners of the Academy Awards, missing only best director Ang Lee of "Life of Pi." Shucks, he said at the time.
Well, Axford has since moved on to the Cleveland Indians to be their closer, but he's still predicting the Oscars — and he's getting better at it.*Axford correctly called 18 of 18 Academy Awards for 2014 on Sunday night. Now that's pushing the envelope.
Some have called it a "perfect game" — naturally, with Axford being a pitcher, even a reliever, it's a fun pun — but the Academy Awards gave out 24 awards. Even though most of the winners were favorites so it wasn't that hard —*some meanie media members might have mumbled — Axford did a great job, no doubt about it. But a perfect Oscars is 24 for 24. Axford got 18 of 24 for 75 percent. He's still six outs short of a perfecto.
What did he leave out?
•*Production Design: "The Great Gatsby."
•*Sound Mixing: "Gravity."
•*Sound Editing: "Gravity."
•*Animated Short Film: "Mr. Hublot."
• Live Action Short Film: "Helium."
• Documentary (short subject): "The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life."
A stopper, leaving out the short categories. Disappointing.
Major League Baseball didn't give Felix Hernandez a perfect game because he went seven spotless innings against the Rays on Aug. 15, 2012. King Felix went nine, because baseball's a nine-inning game. The Oscars go to 24, which Axford acknowledges:
I'm pretty sure this means I have to do all 24 categories next year! #Oscars #18for18
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 3, 2014
He certainly does. And it's not like Axford hasn't gone off on an extended tangent before. He once saved 49 straight games when pitching for the Brewers. He can do 24 of 24 Oscars.
Just for the record, here are all of Axford's predictions:*

18. Best Costume Design - The Great Gatsby
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
17. Best Visual Effects - Gravity
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
16. Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Dallas Buyers Club (could be because I watched it last night and the images are fresh in my mind).
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
Had he not seen "Dallas Buyers Club" before Saturday? What a late call to the pen!
@JohnAxford Leaning towards Captain Phillips on this one.
— Daniel Solzman (@dsolzman) March 2, 2014
Sorry, Daniel. Who do you close for again?
14. Best Song - Let it Go (from "Frozen")
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
13. Best Score - Gravity (Man...Gravity seems to taking over my early picks)
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
As if "Gravity" were pulling at you!
@JohnAxford So you pretty much dig this Gravity movie, eh?
— Jeff C (@JCSwishMan33) March 2, 2014
No, Swish, that's not what he's doing here! Can't you see?!
@JohnAxford The best DOC should be "Dirty Wars"
— Slim Charles Jr. (@kingF0X23) March 2, 2014
Why are you betting against Axford, Slim?
10. Best Foreign Language Feature - The Great Beauty
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
@JohnAxford Show the kids who's in charge!
— Brad Walchuk (@bwalchuk) March 2, 2014
Brad gets it.
8. Best Adapted Screenplay - 12 Years a Slave
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
7. Best Original Screenplay - Spike Jonze ("Her") (The music video lover in me is made this choice!)

— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
"Her" was awesome. She was great. Both of them were fantastic!
6. Best Supporting Actress - Lupita Nyongo ("12 Years a Slave")
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
@JohnAxford best cameo roll - Adam Dunn (Dallas Buyers Club)
— Black Hammer (@Marky_B_14) March 2, 2014
Dunn paid for the movie! He's the biggest Dallas Buyer of them all!
4. Best Actress - Cate Blanchett ("Blue Jasmine")
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
Woody Allen mention by Blanchett surprised some. Probably not Axford.
3. Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey ("Dallas Buyers Club") (Hands down...Sorry again Leo)
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
All right, all right all right!
@JohnAxford You're wrong, it'll be Steve McQueen
— Nadia Dajani (@CaughtOffBase) March 2, 2014
"You're wrong." Doesn't happen, missy. Not here.
1. Best Picture - 12 Years a Slave
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) March 2, 2014
Nice job, Ax. But even better luck next year.
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David Brown*edits*Big League Stew*on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at*[email protected]*and follow him on Twitter!
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