The good and the ugly from Aki

[Doitsuyama 1,194]

Here's how I saw the rikishi's performances through the eye of my strength ratings.

The biggest positive surprise was obviously shin-makuuchi Goeido, losing only to strong rikishi and thus improving his strength rating by a whopping 97 points. Yoshikaze was the second best by that measure, posting a 10-5 in makuuchi while his rating suggested juryo strength for him, it's 78 points up for him. Other big improvements were shown by shin-juryo Kotokasuga who proved that last basho wasn't a fluke, young Russian Wakanoho, Korean Kasugao, the two young juryo Kitataiki and Chiyohakuho who both were 9-6. Kakuryu just had his 22nd birthday, and he is showing improvement too, staying close to KK while being in the joi-jin ranks.

Now to the biggest disappointment who obviously was Roho, a joi-jin regular going 6-9 in lower makuuchi and losing 83 strength rating points. Tamarikido's time as sekitori might have come to an end after 38 basho as the 33 years old had a 3-12 in low juryo which is more pitiful than disappointing. The other two big losers by strength rating are Iwakiyama (4-11) and Ryuo (3-12). In fifth place in this list we still don't have Kaio, but another ozeki as Kotooshu had a super soft schedule, facing only the four lower sanyaku and eleven maegashira rikishi, and 8-7 just don't cut it for an ozeki, losing 48 strength points with this performance.

Edited September 24, 2007 by Doitsuyama

[Kintamayama 45,542]

Kasuganishiki was the second best by that measure, posting a 10-5 in makuuchi -7 just don't cut it for an ozeki, losing 48 strength points with this performance.

I think you meant Kasugou..

Edited September 23, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 19,682]

Kasuganishiki was the second best by that measure

I think you meant Kasugou..

Nah, he meant Yoshikaze. :-D

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

shin-juryo Kotokasuga

Kaeri-jūryō, you mean. Nitpicker inside me is now satisfied. (Whatever above, it is funny...)

[Shimpu 0]

Here's how I saw the rikishi's performances through the eye of my strength ratings.

Yoshikaze was the second best by that measure, posting a 10-5 in makuuchi while his rating suggested juryo strength for him, it's 78 points up for him.

I have to say I'm very pleased with Yoshikaze performance this Basho. He gained some weight (135kg) and stick to his trademark explosive tachi-ai and fast low attacks from different angles (against Kitazakura, Takamisakari, Kokkai...) He really messed a lot of bouts recently because of constant Henka attempts. I like him offensive - he looks much better in Juryo. In Makuuchi he has no self confidence. Maybe this basho will change it. He still needs to add some more mass to support his tsupparis.