Haru 2023 discussion (results)

[bettega 427]

Well, this is the most boring and uninsterinting basho in a while. 

 

 

(so far)

Edited March 17, 2023 by bettega

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Nishikifuji. Midorifuji. Takayasu. Daieisho. Abi. 

Can't say the overall sumo has been inspiring, but most of my personal favorites are off to terrific starts. Would be happy to see any of the above take the yusho. 

Edited March 17, 2023 by Kaninoyama

[since_94 650]

Days 1, 2, and 3 were fun to watch. It’s been downhill since, entertainment wise, IMO. (* Enho definitely gets a pass, Kotoeko, too.)

But today’s a brand new new day and anything can happen, so let’s get it going, boys!

Hakkioi!

[Yamanashi 3,724]

6 hours ago, nelimw said:

Sounds crazy but I'd love to see a Kotoeko yusho. Should I just go ahead and move this to the ridiculous predictions area?

He's such a "lunch bucket" kind of guy, I'd love to see it, too.  It would furnish another amazing tale while we wait for some dominant sekitori to finally take charge.

[specialweek 2 136]

125 years ago with one Y and one O on banzuke. Now a tournament with S the highest competing.

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

 

8 minutes ago, specialweek 2 said:

125 years ago with one Y and one O on banzuke. Now a tournament with S the highest competing.

And none of the sekiwake are anywhere near getting promotion. 

[Athenayama 953]

Another unnecessary extra shove by Hakuyozan this time on an injured Tamashoho.... Someone do something!

Edited March 18, 2023 by Athenayama

[Katooshu 3,135]

He's the most consistent late shover in sumo today, no respect or care for his opponents. 

Also, Kise's shimpan shift in high makushita/low juryo need to step up their game and stop being so lazy. Two days in a row they've let a highly questionable call stand without even a monoii.

Edited March 18, 2023 by Katooshu

[Athenayama 953]

1 minute ago, Katooshu said:

 

Also, Kise's shimpan shift need to step up their game and stop being so lazy. Two days in a row they've let a highly questionable call stand without even a monoii.

Maybe because they're behind schedule? Not that this should be a reason...

[dingo 1,160]

It's sad that Takakeisho's yokozuna dream is not even limited by his skills, but by his constant injuries. An uninjured Takakeisho from 2 years ago would be a yokozuna for a while now. 

[Athenayama 953]

About Hakuyozan's extra shoves. Could it be some kind of "revenge against fate" projected on his opponents after his serious injury? I can't remember if he was already doing that before it.
I'm just trying to find an explanation.

[MrGrumpyGills 119]

2 hours ago, dingo said:

It's sad that Takakeisho's yokozuna dream is not even limited by his skills, but by his constant injuries. An uninjured Takakeisho from 2 years ago would be a yokozuna for a while now. 

It's very frustrating as a fan and I can't even imagine how bad it has to be for him
Perhaps this was his last chance too, since there's lots of new talent coming up the banzuke and Terunofuji may be returning next basho...

[Kishinoyama 582]

I am a long time sumo fan and I hope that someone at Komusubi or Sekiwake can post double digit wins in this tournament and the next one.

At this point, 30 wins over 3 tournaments would be good enough for ozeki promotion.  

[Masunofuji 36]

Takayasu, not like this...

[Akinomaki 39,770]

Ochiai seems to have injured his left elbow, Onosho was limping after the bout - a basho of injuries, so far only one sekitori to drop out during the basho, but half is still to come

Kitanowaka definitely had no kabaite - his arm was clearly down before Mineyaiba hit the clay, Mineyaiba was the attacker, his foot was not nearly as wrong sided as in other bouts where nobody cared, no mono-ii - the makushita man was blatantly robbed, his face told it

Tochinoshin has waken up, he might make it back to makuuchi after all

[RabidJohn 1,663]

4 hours ago, dingo said:

It's sad that Takakeisho's yokozuna dream is not even limited by his skills, but by his constant injuries. An uninjured Takakeisho from 2 years ago would be a yokozuna for a while now. 

I believe his technique is something of a side issue. The problem is Takakeisho's fighting spirit far exceeds the capability of his physique. It's a recurring pattern going back to his 1st ozeki promotion: fantastic run of results then he pushes a bit too far and gets injured. Rinse and repeat.

Talking of Takakeisho's physique, Bushozan looks identical from behind...

Has Midorifuji got tungsten leg bones or something? He does not fight like he's the smallest rikishi in makuuchi. That tsukiotoshi against Takayasu today looked like it had 160kg behind it.

[Kujo 116]

I see comments here as to bashos being boring because there are no "dominant" rikishi and have to strongly disagree. I think the most boring time ever in sumo was during hakuho's "reign". Watching him play with his food and knowing there was no chance of anyone else winning the basho unless he slipped up or "allowed" it to happen was boring. At least now there is no preordained outcome. Now it's the last man standing (even if he's a maegashira 83 West) 

 

[Hankegami 412]

Back to pester you all after a few busy days for me.

St. James Infirmary Blues all over, I'd say. Takakeisho is out (and once again the rope will come next time - or better, the Hamster is getting closer and closer to a Kaio-esque career, minus his on-dohyo longevity), Kiribayama was clearly harboring a likely elbow injury against Kotonowaka, Wakatakakage is again on board after a terrible 0-5 probably also caused by his rib injury a few weeks ago (and knowing WakaBro3, he could even win out and post a 10-5), and Hoshoryu is likely still troubled by his ankle. And they are our top ranked guys now. Down in Juryo, next Yokozuna Asanoyama had a nasty fall after a hard-fought bout (great win, I believed he was going to lose that one for a moment), his predicted eventual successor Ochiai ditto (yay!), and fan favorite Tamashoho is injured as well. As for his brother-in-law Tamawashi, he's clearly bothered from a nasty form of injury called "I'm 38 years old and simply cannot ace two bashos in a row".

So, Midorifuji on the lead, courtesy of Daieisho and Takayasu clearly eager to lose their bout today. I hope he's not going to last (don't wrong me, but it would be like a Mainoumi or Enho yusho... Totally odd), but I can see him going 8-0 against Aoiyama tomorrow. Of his other 5-2 chasers, Shodai is clearly in a good shape, barring some recurring attacks of Shodainess he suffered from in a couple bouts. Abi is also on track, although he's prospected to drop another one against Daieisho tomorrow, given that the latter has won four of their last five H2H. As for Wakamotoharu and Kotonowaka, I still see them as external chasers at the moment. Nishikifuji instead has started to drop down, and to this point I don't think he will bounce up again - but he should post a good score nevertheless. A wild card could be Takanosho, although I am not sure he's going to keep his pace for full 15 days.

Last two lines for the new guys. Hokuseiho is definitively back to his old Juryo form after he performed some good yori attacks in his first three days or so. That's almost like he got tired of being active and reversed to his usual 'stand there and wait' strategy. It's not going to work, and if he insists on playing the game he will end up with a mediocre score for sure. So much for getting a prize as a thanks for Miyagino-oyakata. Kinbozan is proven good instead. I don't know if he can enter into the yusho race, but he's most likely to get a prize that this Hokuseiho ATM. Forgot anyone? Ah, sure, Takakeisho Bushozan. Well, he's clearly not as brilliant as the other two. He's having a hard time to survive in Maakuchi, and tomorrow he could even give out his first win to poor Azumaryu (precedents 0-4 for the latter) and going down to 2-6. At M14w, he needs either a KK or a controlled MK (7-8 or 6-9) to not be demoted. Wish him good luck.

1 hour ago, Kujo said:

I see comments here as to bashos being boring because there are no "dominant" rikishi and have to strongly disagree. I think the most boring time ever in sumo was during hakuho's "reign". Watching him play with his food and knowing there was no chance of anyone else winning the basho unless he slipped up or "allowed" it to happen was boring. At least now there is no preordained outcome. Now it's the last man standing (even if he's a maegashira 83 West) 

Very true, but Ozumo is also structured to be 'boring', at least in modern times. The simple fact that the banzuke must have two Ozeki (that is, a couple guys capable of going 10+ with ease) requires a few most outstanding people. The current situation of joy-jin going hot and cold every other basho, with the most consistent guy (Wakatakakage) providing 8-7 and 9-6 consistently raises a grand red flag over present times. Most probably someone will step up eventually (Asanoyama in the short to middle term, and possibly Kinbozan, Hokuseiho, Ochiai and next coming monster Nakamura in the long go, hopefully), but all this 'fun' hides plenty of danger IMHO.

Edited March 18, 2023 by Hankegami

[hakutorizakura 590]

Midorifuji on his way for a sansho?

Has it ever happened that the smallest man in the division goes 8-0 (if he wins tomorrow)?

[Old Shatterhand is dead 29]

6 hours ago, dingo said:

 An uninjured Takakeisho from 2 years ago would be a yokozuna for a while now. 

Highly doubt about it

[Octofuji 327]

6 hours ago, Athenayama said:

About Hakuyozan's extra shoves. Could it be some kind of "revenge against fate" projected on his opponents after his serious injury? I can't remember if he was already doing that before it.
I'm just trying to find an explanation.

He was doing it before he dropped to Makushita, and I've seen him do the same thing in mattas. The only (generous) explanation I can think of is simply that it's best to make absolutely sure that your opponent is out.

I actually find it quite impressive that - in general - wrestlers so suddenly manage to stop once their opponent had stepped out, especially as they are often not able to see the tawara.

[Octofuji 327]

21 minutes ago, hakutorizakura said:

Midorifuji on his way for a sansho?

Has it ever happened that the smallest man in the division goes 8-0 (if he wins tomorrow)?

Chiyonofuji maybe?

[dingo 1,160]

4 hours ago, MrGrumpyGills said:

It's very frustrating as a fan and I can't even imagine how bad it has to be for him
Perhaps this was his last chance too, since there's lots of new talent coming up the banzuke and Terunofuji may be returning next basho...

I'm not so much worried about the new talent and a fading Terunofuji, as the cumulative effect Takakeisho's regular injuries are having on his potential. He's already not anymore the rikishi he was 2 years ago, but at some point his body will give out entirely. In that sense I'm also worried that he will not have many chances left. 

[dingo 1,160]

3 hours ago, Kishinoyama said:

I am a long time sumo fan and I hope that someone at Komusubi or Sekiwake can post double digit wins in this tournament and the next one.

At this point, 30 wins over 3 tournaments would be good enough for ozeki promotion.  

Seems to me that Shodai is not wasting any time getting a new Ozeki run going 

Edited March 18, 2023 by dingo
Spelling

[MrGrumpyGills 119]

44 minutes ago, dingo said:

I'm not so much worried about the new talent and a fading Terunofuji, as the cumulative effect Takakeisho's regular injuries are having on his potential. He's already not anymore the rikishi he was 2 years ago, but at some point his body will give out entirely. In that sense I'm also worried that he will not have many chances left. 

True. It's a shame, really...