Aki 2014 Basho Comments

[Jakusotsu 6,389]

Ah, one thing. I think now that he’s in the lower ranks, Kyokutenhō is trying harder for the wins. That smart thinking gave him his longevity, I think. Or maybe I’m completely wrong.

You're not. Kyokutenho has always played the smart game, always doing best when he needed to, and always avoiding injury. The only time he's been absent from Makuuchi was not because of his health. (Ok, that move wasn't very smart...)

[bettega 433]

I am really excited for Tochinoshins comeback, I wish him the best of luck.

I remember the posts about him kyujo. He did the right thing, I think. Heal full after come back

[Shikona 171]

Ichinojo got beaten to the punch a couple of times by Sadanoumi, but he is tough to move, and adjusts well. Will need to be quicker to do well against joi-jin, I think.

[Propmanoz 1]

Is it just me, or does it seem a tough draw for Ichinojo at M10 to be drawn against an Ozeki on Day 11? He may be 8-1, but looking back at similar runs (like Kyokutenho's run to his Yusho), it seems like a deliberately challenging schedule quite early.

[yorikiried by fate 2,038]

It would be a classical Sekiwake duty to test the quality of upstart Maegashira at this time of the basho (then-Ama had to deal with a few IIRC). Maybe they thought it's pointless with only Takekaze available. As the current Komusubi are not exactly natives to their rank, Ozeki is the next best choice, I guess.

[Kuroyama 715]

Takarafuji just fist-bumped his tsukebito on his way back to the dressing room...

[Shitamachi 21]

Today I was watching Kisenosato and wondering if he could redeem himself with a kubinage of his own against Takarafuji. But then I remembered that Takarafuji has no neck...

[Morty 1,518]

And Hakuho reminds us that, despite being 160kg, he has the balance and poise of member of the the Bolshoi ballet. He has all the assets needed in sumo but of them all, I have always thought his ability to stay on his feet is why he is largely unbeatable.

In contrast Toyohibiki has the balance of a unicycle carrying a heavy load trying to take a corner at 60. I have often wondered why Toyohibiki has never been able to turn that awesome tachiai into a better win loss record but Aminishiki demonstrated exactly why today

[ALAKTORN 346]

I think Hakuhō got lucky. Ōsunaarashis right foot slipped on the dohyō on its own, otherwise he couldve kept pressing when Hakuhō was off-balance.

[Kotogouryuu 143]

And Hakuho reminds us that, despite being 160kg, he has the balance and poise of member of the the Bolshoi ballet. He has all the assets needed in sumo but of them all, I have always thought his ability to stay on his feet is why he is largely unbeatable.

The way he reset his balance was amazing. He didn't even need to touch the ground with his other foot, it was enough to get it in the right position.

[Monnodo 60]

Is it just me, or does it seem a tough draw for Ichinojo at M10 to be drawn against an Ozeki on Day 11? He may be 8-1, but looking back at similar runs (like Kyokutenho's run to his Yusho), it seems like a deliberately challenging schedule quite early.

I was very suprised, too and to be honest I think it is unfair, but sometimes tickets selling seems more important to the guys in charge i guess^^

[Shikona 171]

Clearly a mistake was made in not challenging Kyokutenho early enough, and it's not right to let a low-ranked maegashira waltz to a yusho. And Ichinojo has certainly looked impressive so far. Kisenosato, after a great start, is looking a little doubtful lately. Could easily lose this match. He does not seem to intimidate opponents at all. Takarafuji couldn't get off the dohyo fast enough against Hakuho; today he's a monster.

Ichinojo again using a strong grip on the back of the neck. Very useful; at his height he will see plenty of neck backs to grab.

[Kotogouryuu 143]

It would be a classical Sekiwake duty to test the quality of upstart Maegashira at this time of the basho (then-Ama had to deal with a few IIRC). Maybe they thought it's pointless with only Takekaze available. As the current Komusubi are not exactly natives to their rank, Ozeki is the next best choice, I guess.

It seems they had to pick out of two less that optimal choices. Either feeding a shaky kobusubi/sekiwake to Ichinojo or skipping that bit and going straight for the ozeki. Either way, someone was going to complain.

If Ichinojo is really challenging for the cup (which I don't he is), he's got to go against a few ozeki. I have no problems with tomorrows match up.

[Asashosakari 20,224]

It would be a classical Sekiwake duty to test the quality of upstart Maegashira at this time of the basho (then-Ama had to deal with a few IIRC). Maybe they thought it's pointless with only Takekaze available. As the current Komusubi are not exactly natives to their rank, Ozeki is the next best choice, I guess.

Takekaze's not technically available for Day 11 either, he has to face Hakuho there because Hak's schedule is blocked for Day 12-15. I bet they'll still do Takekaze-Ichinojo at some point from Day 12-14.

I guess the closest recent case was Toyonoshima's run four years ago. They also started with an ozeki there, albeit from Day 12. It's a big vote of confidence in Ichinojo in any case that they actually consider him a serious enough threat to start so early - they didn't do it with Takayasu two months ago, for instance.

[Asashosakari 20,224]

Clearly a mistake was made in not challenging Kyokutenho early enough, and it's not right to let a low-ranked maegashira waltz to a yusho.

It was a 12-3 yusho, those are fluky no matter who wins them. There aren't nearly enough open slots in the high-ranker schedules to challenge every single rikishi who could finish 12-3 every time. (Or are you in favour of challenging Kyokutenho this basho? He's 7-3, you know.)

[Andreas21 219]

If Ichinojo is really challenging for the cup (which I don't he is), he's got to go against a few ozeki. I have no problems with tomorrows match up.

Either feeding a shaky kobusubi/sekiwake to Ichinojo or skipping that bit and going straight for the ozeki. Either way, someone was going to complain.

There was a flying zabuton reported after Ichonjos loss. So, who cares?

Edited September 23, 2014 by Andreas21

[Gurowake 4,149]

Clearly a mistake was made in not challenging Kyokutenho early enough, and it's not right to let a low-ranked maegashira waltz to a yusho. And Ichinojo has certainly looked impressive so far. Kisenosato, after a great start, is looking a little doubtful lately. Could easily lose this match. He does not seem to intimidate opponents at all. Takarafuji couldn't get off the dohyo fast enough against Hakuho; today he's a monster.

Ichinojo again using a strong grip on the back of the neck. Very useful; at his height he will see plenty of neck backs to grab.

If you go back and look at the decisions they made for his opponents, he was matched up with high-ranking guys as soon as it was clear he was in contention. After day 11 when they made the day 13 torikumi, Kisenosato had a 2-win lead over 8 rikishi. You can't put Ozeki against all those guys. Kisenosato lost day 12 (to Tochiozan) and only Tochiozan and Kyokutenho won out of the 3-loss group, so the latter two did get tough matches for days 14 and 15. Kyokutenho did end up facing Sekiwake Goeido and Ozeki Kotooshu and beat both of them, so it's not like it just fell to Kyokutenho without having him beat anyone good at all.

[Gurowake 4,149]

WIth Kakuryu not getting Osunaarashi Day 11, I'm now expecting the Yokozuna to face Ichinojo for his remaining maegashira bout should Ichinojo continue to win.

edit: Well, they put Osunaarashi against Kotoshogiku instead so maybe that was more important? It could just another case of them being slightly weird, but doing it this way leaves open the possibility Ichinojo faces everyone at the top except Hakuho; typically the Yokozuna seem to have priority for fights against maegashira.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Gurowake

[shumitto 418]

I was not paying to much attention to sumo today but a couple of bouts struck me as odd. Toyonoshima clearly stepped out before Chiyotairyu today, or maybe there was something I didn't see. Also, with Endo and Jokoryu flying out of the dohyo with no one clearly in charge I expected at least a mono-ii, but...

After watching sumo for so many years you get used to these guys, and today by just looking at Kisenosato there was this feeling he was going to lose. He was his usual "no focus" self today. A pity. His bout with Ichinojo will be a big test for the Mongolian, but I still expect Kise to win.

Chiyorashi is in his best shape following his many injuries and I think he will have to fight Abiko for the Yusho but Iwasaki is having some basho.

[Asashosakari 20,224]

WIth Kakuryu not getting Osunaarashi Day 11, I'm now expecting the Yokozuna to face Ichinojo for his remaining maegashira bout should Ichinojo continue to win.

edit: Well, they put Osunaarashi against Kotoshogiku instead so maybe that was more important? It could just another case of them being slightly weird, but doing it this way leaves open the possibility Ichinojo faces everyone at the top except Hakuho; typically the Yokozuna seem to have priority for fights against maegashira.

Hakuho wasn't going to face Ichinojo anyway, his schedule is complete through to Day 15. Kakuryu has to get Goeido on Day 11, there's really no other day to do it. (Goeido is busy with Hakuho on Day 12, Kakuryu is busy with Hak/Giku/Kise on 13-15.)

Indeed there's room for Kakuryu-Ichinojo on Day 12, although I think they'll pick either Kotoshogiku or Takekaze. (They don't really deviate from the "top 15 opponents available" plan for yokozuna these days.) The maximum possible they can put Ichinojo through at this point is probably:

Day 11 Kisenosato

Day 12 Kakuryu or Kotoshogiku

Day 13/14 Goeido and Takekaze

Edited September 23, 2014 by Asashosakari

[lackmaker 454]

Maybe surprisingly Takekaze has a reasonable chance of remaining in senyaku or even retaining his rank. After tomorrow his likely schedule looks less than daunting. He has probably benefited more than anyone from the withdrawals of Myogiryu and Harumafuji.

[Gurowake 4,149]

Here's the mono-ii explanation for Toyonoshima vs. Chiyotairyu.

[Gurowake 4,149]

Kakuryu has to get Goeido on Day 11, there's really no other day to do it. (Goeido is busy with Hakuho on Day 12, Kakuryu is busy with Hak/Giku/Kise on 13-15.)

I don't really see it as a necessity that the last three days have fights exclusively among the top 4 ranked rikishi. Looking through the last few basho before Kakuryu was promoted, there are numerous occasions that an Ozeki that wasn't one of the top 2 remaining fought a Yokozuna on day 13. With Hakuho's ascending order schedule and Kisenosato vs. Kotoshogiku on day 15 as givens, they could have done Kakuryu vs. Kotoshogiku day 12, Kisenosato day 14, Goeido Day 13. And I wouldn't even consider Hakuho's regular schedule a given, as many of those slot 2 Ozeki v. Yokozuna fights on Day 13 were against Hakuho at Ye.

[Doitsuyama 1,259]

Clearly a mistake was made in not challenging Kyokutenho early enough, and it's not right to let a low-ranked maegashira waltz to a yusho.

It was a 12-3 yusho, those are fluky no matter who wins them. There aren't nearly enough open slots in the high-ranker schedules to challenge every single rikishi who could finish 12-3 every time. (Or are you in favour of challenging Kyokutenho this basho? He's 7-3, you know.)

Not to mention he started 2-3 in his yusho basho. At each point of his run there were more deserving maegashira to meet high-rankers. As Asashosakari said if Kyokutenho finishes 12-3 this basho noone should complain even in hindsight about him getting "only" an M8 tomorrow (funnily, it's Tochiozan of all people).

[Asashosakari 20,224]

I don't really see it as a necessity that the last three days have fights exclusively among the top 4 ranked rikishi. Looking through the last few basho before Kakuryu was promoted, there are numerous occasions that an Ozeki that wasn't one of the top 2 remaining fought a Yokozuna on day 13. With Hakuho's ascending order schedule and Kisenosato vs. Kotoshogiku on day 15 as givens, they could have done Kakuryu vs. Kotoshogiku day 12, Kisenosato day 14, Goeido Day 13.

None of the ozeki nor sekiwake are in the yusho race this time though, so no real reason to deviate from the standard plan. (And Ichinojo isn't quite important enough yet to do it for him.) Also, with Kakuryu in the musubi slot for Day 11, they simply may have preferred to do Kakuryu-Goeido as the headline bout rather than Kakuryu-Osunaarashi.

And I wouldn't even consider Hakuho's regular schedule a given, as many of those slot 2 Ozeki v. Yokozuna fights on Day 13 were against Hakuho at Ye.

As far as I can tell those all happened with 6+ active Y/O and 10+ sanyaku in total - they have more room to maneuver in that scenario since they have 3 sanyaku bouts to fit into each day.