Next veteran sekitori to drop out of juryo? 2

[higginbotham]

Shunketsu's intai was so succesfully predicted by pollers that the question came up again. Who is more likely to drop out of Juryo ? Everyone over the 30's - as of May, 11th - was considered, except the returnees (Asofuji and Bushuyama). For the sake of data, the more experienced amongst this group is Kitazakura, as everyone should know, now set for his 55th sekitori Basho. On the other hand, Kyokunankai will go for the number 17 in May.

First pick: Kaiho

Edited May 1, 2008 by higginbotham

[ilovesumo]

Forget your pick. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH

Go KAIHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

:-)

Wish them all to stay.

Am a fan for a while now, and the veterans are kinda important to me.

I miss Buyuzan...

Edited May 1, 2008 by ilovesumo

[higginbotham]

Wish them all to stay.

So do I, but sooner rather than later they will start losing skills, strenght and ranks. The question is about that only.

Edited May 1, 2008 by higginbotham

[ilovesumo]

So the same answer as always-

"wait and see". :-)

[messi19]

Nice poll, it is interesting to continue this topic!

Out of the ones mentioned here Shimotori, when healthy, to me still looks more than any of the others like a solid lower makuuchi rikishi. Unfotunately injuries have made him drop to juryo twice within the last year. I can only imagine him dropping to makushita if he injures himself again.

My choice would be Kyokunankai because I've never been too impressed by his sumo on a juryo-level, but much like last time he is definitely capable of regaining sekitori status if he indeed does drop.

[kaiguma]

When it happens, it sometimes happens very quickly. For this reason, I see danger for Kasuganishiki. Otherwise I would pick Kyokunankai out of his sheer mediocrity, but then that seems to be precisely why he is still there. I think Ushiomaru will also be one to fall suddenly as new blood flows in from below. But he probably still has another year or two left.

Kaiho unfortunately is walking on broken glass every time he steps up on the dohyo, can't you tell? But only Kaiho knows how long he can go on doing that. My advice to him would be to stay out of makuuchi if he wants to keep at it longer...

Kitazakura seems to me like he will be there forever! And Otsukasa too, even though I shudder to see him wander into Makuuchi now and again.

[Mark Buckton]

For this reason, I see danger for Kasuganishiki.

looked strong in gets-keiko this week

[aderechelsea]

unfortunately Kaiho is looking rather weak. I have no idea what's his kabu status but an intai doesn't seem very distant if his future is secure ...

i sooooooooo hope i am wrong... :-(

[Fujisan]

Not sure I wanna express myself after voting Shunketsu and him going intai soon afterwards.

I voted Ushiomaru but I think Kaiho has had his final fling after his Makunouchi return.

Shame popularity doesn't count on the banzuke or Kaiho would never be demoted.

[Raishu]

I'd also go with Kaiho, considering his kabu options and his performances in the last basho.

Ushiomaru ... depends on his knees.

If I had voted according to skill level I'd have picked Kyokunankai.

But we'll have to wait and see who will (I am not worthy...)

[Asashosakari]

I have trouble thinking of Kyokunankai as a "veteran sekitori", and he already dropped to makushita recently anyway, so I'll go with Toyozakura again...

[messi19]

I guess Katayama despite being about two years younger than Kyokunankai can be considered more of a sektori veteran considering he has been a sekitori for almost four years now (23 basho as a sekitori overall).

Kyokunankai has had 16 sekitori basho and unlike Katayama none in Makuuchi.

Then again, Kyokunankai's hatsu dohyo came no less than 9 years ahead of Katayama's. Kyokunankai in that sense is much more of a veteran, but not as much of a sekitori veteran.

Anyway, I know that the poll was made taking into account the age factor so there are no objections from my part. (I am not worthy...)

Edited May 4, 2008 by messi19

[aderechelsea]

just for the record ... i don't see Kaiho dropping from Juryo before any of these guys ... my previous comment was directed mainly towards intai. I am pretty sure he can hold his own in Juryo better than the likes of Kyokunankai,Shimotori,Toyozakura or Uchiomaru.

if i have to pick one ... then it is Kitazakura.

Like Asashosakari i cannot think of Kyokunankai as a "veteran". He is a sekitori for a short period compared to his career length and he is only 31. Dropping down to Makushita won't make the news (I am not worthy...)

[higginbotham]

I don't see Kyokunankai as a veteran too. The "no returnee" criteria set aside Bushuyama and Asofuji (the latter probably more suitable for the veteran group than Kyokunankai), and a less than 20 basho as sekitori forbid would put Kyokunankai out as well. Anyway, he was put there more due to sumo experience than anything else. Katayama has only a six year sumo experience, which maybe is not suficient to give him a memebership card into this group. It is all arbitrary and easily disagreeable after all.

[Asashosakari]

I don't see Kyokunankai as a veteran too. The "no returnee" criteria set aside Bushuyama and Asofuji (the latter probably more suitable for the veteran group than Kyokunankai)

Sure, but why not Kyokunankai, too? He was in makushita as recently as January...

[sekihiryu]

Shimotori due to health

[Mark Buckton]

Shimotori due to health

and hasn't looked great in keiko recently. Wrist woes I do believe.

[higginbotham]

I don't see Kyokunankai as a veteran too. The "no returnee" criteria set aside Bushuyama and Asofuji (the latter probably more suitable for the veteran group than Kyokunankai)

Sure, but why not Kyokunankai, too? He was in makushita as recently as January...

He should have been left out, however the fact there is a draw in first place between him and Ushiomaru is quite telling of how voters think Ushiomaru is these days.

6 Basho in a row at least looks like a good criteria for a possibly coming poll.