Haru 2023 discussion (results)

[Kurowashi 42]

Endo vs Hoshoryu was exciting, also the small stare down before the bout  

 

Juryo had also some nice bouts. In general the last couple bashos, Juryo is in my opinion a lot more interesting than Makuuchi.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Kurowashi

[Hankegami 412]

1 hour ago, Kaninoyama said:

Midorifuji not unsurprisingly loses and suddenly a slew of riskishi are back in the yusho picture. It won't get any easier for him tomorrow against Wakatakakage. 

Definitively, especially considering that Wakatakakage did a major blunder by losing to MK Kotoshoho, and by his face he knew that perfectly. WTK put himself in a very precarious situation this basho by starting 0-5, meaning that he had only two extra losses to give before losing his Sekiwake rank. Of course, he was probably hampered by his rib injury, but we all know how Ozumo works. I think his A plan was to keep his two losses for Kiribayama and Hoshoryu, both on a warpath after an unimpressive start. Now he has just one, and both of them yet to face. His only option now is winning out and likely targeting the loser of tomorrow's Kiribayama vs. Hoshoryu, as the loser will likely be out of the Yusho race and with less reasons to fight hard - both already have their KK.

About Kiribayama vs. Hoshoryu (precedents 5-6 but most recent 0-3, although it was before Kiribayama started using his now trademark oshi attacks at the tachi-ai), I think that their bout will reveal the main three-losses chaser for this basho. A Kiribayama win would be particularly interesting, since he has yet to face both Midorifuji and Daieisho. This means he has an outside chance to trigger a 12-3 playoff with shades of Harumafuji's 11-4P yusho in Aki 2017.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Hankegami

[BroadMeadow 32]

Great to see Ochiai and Gonoyama come out with so much piss and vinegar. Neither won, but both stated they belong.

Hoshoryu gets criticized for his henkas, but he has also made fools of two guys who tried it on him. Kudos.  

[hakutorizakura 581]

A day of emotions? Meisei's expression, Daieisho punches air as Midorifuji falls, and of course Hosh, even if his face is by default sour 

And hey, Chiyoshoma KK and is in the pursuer group!

[since_94 650]

Day 11 Makuuchi offered the usual smattering of rather tepid bouts, but several made watching worthwhile, at least in sped-up, condensed version. Hokuseiho looking very difficult for opponents to move this tourney, as Miyogiryu found out the hard way today. He’s building his body strength and big dividends should accrue from the work he’s putting in, to say nothing of the coaching he’s receiving. Look out. Takarafuji looked good against Sadanoumi. Ura / Shodai was short and entertaining. Go pink! Mitakeumi looking like a jug out there. Kotonowaka visibly disappointed in himself for that slip against Hokutofuji. Felt happy to see Midorifuji go down today, even though I like him. Would prefer someone else to yusho, and his confidence and laser focus have seemed borderline smug at times, so some comeuppance from Wakamotoharu  isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Takayasu, well,  forget about it. Finally, Hoshoryus uwatenage against Enho after a weak henka attempt was not only one for the highlight reels, but suitable for inclusion in textbooks. Thing of beauty.

Edited March 22, 2023 by since_94

[dingo 1,116]

It's a day of plans gone wrong. Endo's feeble henka, Midorifuji's ill-advised pull, Takayasu's ultimately ineffective oshi, Kotonowaka's overextending, Ryuden's yorikiri fail and there's probably more. Feels kinda unsatisfactory. 

[Yamanashi 3,681]

1 minute ago, dingo said:

It's a day of plans gone wrong. Endo's feeble henka, Midorifuji's ill-advised pull, Takayasu's ultimately ineffective oshi, Kotonowaka's overextending, Ryuden's yorikiri fail and there's probably more. Feels kinda unsatisfactory. 

Hoshoryu vs Endo was highly satisfactory: "Don't BS a BSer, son"

Takayasu is now reacting too slowly to his opportunities, probably because he gets burned when he bull-rushes his opponents at the bales.

Midorifuji assumed that this is his golden basho, and anything he does will come out right; it's good to get a reality check.

[dingo 1,116]

2 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

Hoshoryu vs Endo was highly satisfactory: "Don't BS a BSer, son"

I initially thought that was a matta cause Endo's tachiai was basically non-existent. He didn't even commit to the henka much, it seemed very half-baked. 

Edited March 22, 2023 by dingo

[mikawa 1,794]

So many times Takayasu seems to start well and then sooner or later his sumo depreciates (takai -> yasui). Cursed by his shikona perhaps?

[Akinomaki 39,526]

Inosuke did the kaobure gonjo, announcement of next day's torikumi on the dohyo after the makuuchi dohyo-iri on days 2-13 only on day 2, 3, 4 and 8. He doesn't have to accompany a yokozuna dohyo-iri for 3 basho now and always runs out of steam for the kaobure and takes days off, but this time it is extreme - at least no sashi-chigae so far, I thought he had one earlier this basho but then it turned out the shimpan had confirmed and not overturned his decision.

[Kaninoyama 1,659]

8 hours ago, mikawa said:

So many times Takayasu seems to start well and then sooner or later his sumo depreciates (takai -> yasui). Cursed by his shikona perhaps?

You may be on to something there. All he needs to switch it around and become 安髙 and his ascent to yokozuna is all but assured. 

Edited March 22, 2023 by Kaninoyama

[Sumo Spiffy 522]

BTW, I maintain even more strongly that people are mad at Oho, given that he got yoinked into the fight with Asanoyama rather than either of the M16s. 

[Reonito 1,296]

7 minutes ago, Sumo Spiffy said:

BTW, I maintain even more strongly that people are mad at Oho, given that he got yoinked into the fight with Asanoyama rather than either of the M16s. 

TBF Tsuru and Mito have had two J fights already, and Chiyo is doing too well...

[Rocks 1,804]

13 hours ago, dingo said:

It's a day of plans gone wrong. Endo's feeble henka, Midorifuji's ill-advised pull, Takayasu's ultimately ineffective oshi, Kotonowaka's overextending, Ryuden's yorikiri fail and there's probably more. Feels kinda unsatisfactory. 

I don't think he was trying to henka but merely trying very hard to get a deep inside left grip and failed miserably. 

[hakutorizakura 581]

11 hours ago, mikawa said:

So many times Takayasu seems to start well and then sooner or later his sumo depreciates (takai -> yasui). Cursed by his shikona perhaps?

Well if that's the case his whole family is cursed. That's his surname 

[Sumo Spiffy 522]

2 hours ago, Reonito said:

TBF Tsuru and Mito have had two J fights already, and Chiyo is doing too well...

I guess the question is if they think it's inappropriate for someone sniffing the yusho hunt to fight a juryo opponent, or to crater someone's yusho chase by putting him against Asanoyama.

[Jakusotsu 5,739]

5 hours ago, Sumo Spiffy said:

BTW, I maintain even more strongly that people are mad at Oho, given that he got yoinked into the fight with Asanoyama rather than either of the M16s. 

Amended the day after.

[Kaninoyama 1,659]

Poor Takayasu didn't stand a chance after the forum collectively jinxed him after his 6-0 start.

He is 1-5 since then. 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Kaninoyama

[lackmaker 428]

Is that a prediction?

[hakutorizakura 581]

A nice day of sumo today. Didn't expect power sumo from Oho and Takarafuji. Kiri-Hosh bout has some shades of typical Hakuho-Harumafuji showdown. Can Kiri grab the yusho?

[dingo 1,116]

Why did Abi need that henka? He wasn't on the verge of a makekoshi and Mitakeumi is not a strong opponent this basho. Yeah I understand that he wants to secure kachikoshi sooner rather than later but do it properly for crying out loud. Embarrassing.

I totally agree with Kintamayama's observation that Kotonowaka has added calmness to his sumo. Today's bout was very Kisenosato-like from him. 

[Stelios 30]

2 minutes ago, dingo said:

*** properly

Why did Abi need that henka? He wasn't on the verge of a makekoshi and Mitakeumi is not a strong opponent this basho. Yeah I understand that he wants to secure kachikoshi sooner rather than later but do it properly for crying out loud. Embarrassing.

I totally agree with Kintamayama's observation that Kotonowaka has added calmness to his sumo. Today's bout was very Kisenosato-like from him. 

 

[Sumo Spiffy 522]

1 hour ago, dingo said:

Why did Abi need that henka? He wasn't on the verge of a makekoshi and Mitakeumi is not a strong opponent this basho. Yeah I understand that he wants to secure kachikoshi sooner rather than later but do it properly for crying out loud. Embarrassing.

I totally agree with Kintamayama's observation that Kotonowaka has added calmness to his sumo. Today's bout was very Kisenosato-like from him. 

The only good reason to criticize it is on the grounds he could have made better use of a henka against a later opponent, who will now be more ready for it. Mitakeumi's only real chance was to throw himself at Abi and hope that was enough to win quickly; on top of that, Abi's shoving power hasn't manifested this basho the way it usually does, which makes me think his arm's back to not being 100% (or that something else is, to some degree, off). He has Tobi tomorrow, who he's obviously not going to outmaneuver, and he has no idea who's left.

There are no easy wins for these guys, even against a faltering star. I'm sure you saw what Mitakeumi did to Wakamotoharu. Abi not wanting to risk a similar outcome when he's probably more vulnerable to it is strategically very reasonable.

8 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Amended the day after.

I had some very mixed feelings after that fight. x.x I was happy for the kid, and definitely impressed, but where the hell is that sumo when I actually believe in him? 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Sumo Spiffy

[dingo 1,116]

1 minute ago, Sumo Spiffy said:

The only good reason to criticize it is on the grounds he could have made better use of a henka against a later opponent, who will now be more ready for it. Mitakeumi's only real chance was to throw himself at Abi and hope that was enough to win quickly; on top of that, Abi's shoving power hasn't manifested this basho the way it usually does, which makes me think his arm's back to not being 100% (or that something else is, to some degree, off). He has Tobi tomorrow, who he's obviously not going to outmaneuver, and he has no idea who's left.

There are no easy wins for these guys, even against a faltering star. I'm sure you saw what Mitakeumi did to Wakamotoharu. Abi not wanting to risk a similar outcome when he's probably more vulnerable to it is strategically very reasonable.

Yeah I understand the strategic reasoning, but I still don't like it which coincidentally is also a very good reason for me to criticise it 

[Sumo Spiffy 522]

Just now, dingo said:

Yeah I understand the strategic reasoning, but I still don't like it which coincidentally is also a very good reason for me to criticise it 

I mean... yes, fair.  

Eventually, though, I think I'm gonna have to start a Henka Lovers Support Group. (I probably have to wait until Chiyoshoma retires, otherwise it's just going to become his fan club.)