Good starts for Kotooshu, Kotomitsuki, Baruto

[HenryK]

Let's see...

[shumitto]

As far as the contention is concerned, Baruto won't. Tomorrow he is a big favourite to lose. Kotomitsuki will likely drop one on day 6 or 7 or a couple of days later and then he will unlikely look stable. Only Kotooshu, in his first year as a solid Ozeki (so far), can be something more than an outsider.

[HenryK]

They're still looking good.

[Treblemaker]

Nice smack from Mitsuki.. Just the right timing with just the right force... I'm not sure Kakuryu ever saw it coming... You don't often see oshitaoshi right in the middle of the dohyo.

[Kozaru]

It's good to see Haruma winning again, too. He won't yusho himself, but he is very capable of impacting the race by defeating one or both of the Yokozuna. He might even be the deciding factor.

[salle]

It's good to see Haruma winning again, too. He won't yusho himself, but he is very capable of impacting the race by defeating one or both of the Yokozuna. He might even be the deciding factor.

It's actually true for all who will meet both yokozunas and can potentially defeat them. It's pretty much even between them as Hakuho is healthy and strong while Asa is little bit shaky this basho so chances are much bigger for Hakuho to win Y-Y one.

[Kintamayama]

It's actually true for all who will meet both yokozunas and can potentially defeat them. It's pretty much even between them as Hakuho is healthy and strong while Asa is little bit shaky this basho so chances are much bigger for Hakuho to win Y-Y one.

If anyone seems shaky, it's Hakuhou, and he is not totally healthy, AFAIK.

[Kozaru]

Yes, Hakuho seems very shaky. The pressure of the record? The pressure of the yusho race?

By my count (from memory), Hak has been beaten or nearly beaten 4 times this basho. Asa only once..... Does anybody dispute my recollection?

[Treblemaker]

It's good to see Haruma winning again, too. He won't yusho himself, but he is very capable of impacting the race by defeating one or both of the Yokozuna. He might even be the deciding factor.

It's actually true for all who will meet both yokozunas and can potentially defeat them. It's pretty much even between them as Hakuho is healthy and strong while Asa is little bit shaky this basho so chances are much bigger for Hakuho to win Y-Y one.

Huh? Just exactly what basho are you watching?

Hak has almost had his butt burned more than a few times this week, and his injured elbow renders that weapon almost useless. In the head-to-head with Asa, I give the latter the advantage as we speak. Size, this time around, is not an issue. Technique is. Hak's technique is nowhere where it should be, and Asa's always had better athleticism, incredible speed, lower centre of gravity, tremendous upper-body strength (which seems to have re-appeared this basho) and presence of mind - "ring sense".

In addition, Hak's footwork is saving his butt, including todays "Miracle on the Dohyo" which was helped, in large part, by Kakuryu's total brain fart in assuming he could finish Hak off with a gentle shove. (Must be something in the water, because Mitsuki had the exact same cerebral short-curcuit against HF). Hakuho could very easily be 8-2 or even 7-3 at this stage of the game.

Asa, on the other hand has been lucky at least once, maybe twice, but in every occasion so far, has taken the initiative in every bout to somehow neutralize whichever opponent he's facing. The Miyabiyama slap was perfect for that occasion, the Kisenosato rope-a-dope was also smart sumo. In both cases, speed played an important role.

With 5 days to go, including bouts with the Ozeki and fellow Yok, I believe the only person who can trump Asa is HF, who is not afraid to pull a henka, do a tango, or go to the Gates of Gondor. The issue is whether Asa is prepared for him. The only way Asa doesn't yusho this time is if he has a brain fart of massive proportunes, and that, as we have seen in the past, is quite possible.

[ryafuji]

Where was Kotooshu's game plan? He must have known Kaio would go for the kotenage, and yet he was seemingly unable to do anything about it. A disappointing performance.

[Asashosakari]

Mitsuki had the exact same cerebral short-curcuit against HF.

I disagree. I think Mickey just aimed too high for his would-be final shove (after getting unbalanced a bit by hitting nothing but air on the previous one as Ama stepped back) - Ama smartly ducked a bit and took advantage of Mickey being wide open for morozashi at that point with his arms up high. More smart sumo and quick reaction on Harumafuji's part than an error by Kotomitsuki, IMO.

Edited September 22, 2009 by Asashosakari

[tympsa]

As far as the contention is concerned, Baruto won't. Tomorrow he is a big favourite to lose. Kotomitsuki will likely drop one on day 6 or 7 or a couple of days later and then he will unlikely look stable. Only Kotooshu, in his first year as a solid Ozeki (so far), can be something more than an outsider.

Well, they all are pretty much out of yusho race now, but out of these 3 Baruto was ( and theoretically still is) closer than others and Kotooshu was the weakest one.

At least Baruto beat rest of sanyaku so far including all ozekis , which is almost always necessary to stay close to yokozunas, and didnt drop any matches to maegashira.

[Kozaru]

This might be a bit of a stretch, but Asa is certainly capable of losing 2 matches to the trio of Kotooshu, Kotomitsuki and Hakuho. And Hakuho is certainly capable (this basho, anyway) of losing one more match to the 2 Ozeki. Baruto has already faced all of the top competition. A playoff with him involved is not out of the question. Odds? Maybe 5%-10%.

[Gusoyama]

I think if both Asa and Hakuho were at 1 loss, then the chances would be much higher, but I don't think Asa's going to lose 2 this basho.