Nagoya Basho 2018 Discussion [SPOILERS]

[Rocks]

Mitakeumi is already making a serious challenge. Considering Tochinoshin's loss, which I think we lead to a couple more, I think 12 wins is going to get you into a playoff at least.  With no Yokozuna to face I'd say anyone with 2 losses or less are still in the running and I don't mean just technically.  I would still call Tochinoshin the favorite though.

[Eikokurai]

Just now, Rocks said:

Mitakeumi is already making a serious challenge. Considering Tochinoshin's loss, which I think we lead to a couple more, I think 12 wins is going to get you into a playoff at least.  With no Yokozuna to face I'd say anyone with 2 losses or less are still in the running and I don't mean just technically.  I would still call Tochinoshin the favorite though.

I tend to wait until the second week before I assess the seriousness of a challenge. For me, six bouts is still too far away from what’s usually needed to win to really judge. Mitakeumi won his first seven in January and then ended 8-7.

[ryafuji]

4 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

So now a year does count? I’m confused. Because if we’re counting a full year then that takes us back to July 2017 and Hakuhō winning two yusho.

How about we just say that Hakuho hasn't been able to catch a break this year  and leave it at that. It's undeniable that injuries are affecting him more than they used to (understandable as he is now 33) and he has had a frustrating 2018. It could be the first year since 2005 that he doesn't yusho.

Edited July 13, 2018 by ryafuji

[Dwale]

Just read that Tochinoshin's knee is troubling him and that he may go kyujo. What a strange basho this has turned out to be...

[Morty]

Three observations from today:

1. Yoshikaze will intai before the end of this basho. His heart's not in it anymore;

2. Chiyotairyu looks more motivated than I've ever seen him. He has always had talent but has also been fairly blase. This is the first time he looks really switched on and like he is desperate to win; and

3. Tamawashi completely psyched Tochinoshin out at the tachiai today. Tochinoshin was totally in the zone, then Tamawashi delayed the tachiai and made him matta, and at that exact moment you could see his concentration evaporate. Then he lost in a way he wouldn't normally. Tamawashi is no push over but in the form Tochinoshin is in he would normally have handled him. Smart move by the Mongolian.

 

[ryafuji]

2 minutes ago, Morty said:

Three observations from today:

1. Yoshikaze will intai before the end of this basho. His heart's not in it anymore;

 

That's a bold prediction. He defeated two yokozuna in January and was in sanyaku just last November. Maybe he's just having a bad basho? I think that would be a premature retirement.

[Eikokurai]

23 minutes ago, Dwale said:

Just read that Tochinoshin's knee is troubling him and that he may go kyujo. What a strange basho this has turned out to be...

He’s pictured clutching his knee in the shitakubeya and looking mournful. He could be kadoban in his second tournament as Ozeki.

[Morty]

2 minutes ago, ryafuji said:

That's a bold prediction. He defeated two yokozuna in January and was in sanyaku just last November. Maybe he's just having a bad basho? I think that would be a premature retirement.

I am basing this purely on the scurrilous rumour that he has apparently been losing his passion for sumo and the fact his performance would seem to suggest that might be true. All this could be entirely incorrect. In one way I would be happy to be proven wrong because he is a favourite, but on the other, i have said numerous times that I would like him to retire because I am worried about damage to his brain, given his long term tendency to lead with his head... 

[mikawa]

Injuries are catching up to the great Hakuho now, could we have seen his final yusho? If so, at least he's already past the 40 mark.

Takakeisho beating Takayasu - wow. Tamawashi beating Tochinoshin - WOW.

[Mihasan]

31 minutes ago, Dwale said:

Just read that Tochinoshin's knee is troubling him and that he may go kyujo. What a strange basho this has turned out to be...

In the replay of his bout with Tamawashi, you can clearly see that his knee buckled...  hopefully no serious damage done.

[amigo]

What an odd day in an odd basho. Glad to see Kotoshigiku win, but bizarre to watch Ichinojo just completely stop fighting while still within the dohyo.

[Amamaniac]

11 hours ago, Gurowake said:

It means that someone confused Chiyonokuni and Chiyoshoma.

My bad.

[Kintamayama]

Papers are reporting a left toe injury. "I will not go kyujo-I'm fine. My right knee got a bit over-extended, but the toe..," he said and then went to the hospital for treatment. 

[Akinomaki]

To prevent the spectators suffer from the heat while waiting for the rikishi, the way the rikishi enter has been changed: from day 7 on they enter not as usual through the main entrance, but directly from the parking lot. http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2018/07/13/kiji/20180713s00005000189000c.html

[Bumpkin]

12 hours ago, Gurowake said:

It means that someone confused Chiyonokuni and Chiyoshoma.

Usually, Arawashi is confused with Chiyoshoma.

[rhyen]

just update the daily cartoons. Enjoy

 

[Kotogouryuu]

On 7/12/2018 at 20:57, word20 said:

What is happening with Shodai? Now he has been in Makuuchi some years and every time he comes up and fight Sanyaku ranks he loses and get a loosing record and get down again to Ms number 10 or something like that. It does not seem that he has what is needed like Mitakeumi, who stays in Sanyaku for several bashos now.

It is a curious thing. People were so up on him being the next ozeki, and now Mitakeumi has totally overshadowed him. Personally, I always saw more potential in Mitakeumi, so this basho is at very interesting state for me. But as for Shodai... maybe it's something in his training, like he's not preparing for his opponents properly. He doesn't seem to be carrying major injuries, although it can be hard to tell.

[RabidJohn]

38 minutes ago, Kotogouryuu said:

... maybe it's something in his training, like he's not preparing for his opponents properly. He doesn't seem to be carrying major injuries, although it can be hard to tell.

It's all in his head. Shodai generally goes to pieces against the Y/O. Mitakeumi doesn't. Yet Shodai has a winning record against Mitakeumi... It's definitely where his head's at.

[Gurowake]

55 minutes ago, Kotogouryuu said:

 People were so up on him being the next ozeki,

Kintamayama is only one person.  I hope.

[Jakusotsu]

Right now, Asanoyama looks like the next big thing to me.

But I wouldn't be surprised if he turns out to be just another Okinoumi either.

[evilwaldo]

If Tochinoshin bows out the leaves us with.....

Gōeidō.

Oh boy.

I think Hakuho gets to 1,000 wins and gracefully bows out.

[Asashosakari]

3 hours ago, Kotogouryuu said:

It is a curious thing. People were so up on him being the next ozeki, and now Mitakeumi has totally overshadowed him. Personally, I always saw more potential in Mitakeumi, so this basho is at very interesting state for me. But as for Shodai... maybe it's something in his training, like he's not preparing for his opponents properly. He doesn't seem to be carrying major injuries, although it can be hard to tell.

Maybe he's just a guy who peaked early? His first two years at university were a lot better (in all-time great territory) than the last two. His ozumo career thus far is pretty much in line with what he did in years three and four. I don't know about anybody else's motivation for bigging up Shodai early on, but mine was definitely based on the hope/belief that he would rediscover the magic from the earlier years in ozumo, but it hasn't really ended up happening.

Mitakeumi went the exact opposite way, a bit blah at university early on and then turned into a world beater towards the end of his tenure, and he's never looked back after turning pro.
 

1 hour ago, Jakusotsu said:

Right now, Asanoyama looks like the next big thing to me.

For-real next big thing or in-scare-quotes "next big thing"?

Edited July 13, 2018 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari]

Looking at what remains of the intra-sanyaku pairings - if they decide to schedule a standard 4-rikishi roundrobin at the end, I sure hope they use Mitakeumi instead of Ichinojo to complement the three ozeki.

Of course, if we're not done seeing withdrawals they might be lucky to have anybody available at all...

[Tiger Tanaka]

Mitakeumi using yotsu sumo again to get Shodai turned around and out. Marked improvement in this area as he moves to 6-0 and leading the basho. I put him and Tochi as the co-favorites for this basho with Goeido a notch below who has looked much more aggressive and focused in the last 2 days.

[Bumpkin]

21 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

Looking at what remains of the intra-sanyaku pairings - if they decide to schedule a standard 4-rikishi roundrobin at the end, I sure hope they use Mitakeumi instead of Ichinojo to complement the three ozeki.

Of course, if we're not done seeing withdrawals they might be lucky to have anybody available at all...

I was wondering the same thing. What are the odds?