Suppose Baruto....

[ilovesumo 12]

Well........no promotion after that I guess...

High tachi ai against Toyonoshima, a short and skillful guy. Not Ozeki-like.

Edited January 19, 2010 by ilovesumo

[Kuroyama 715]

Well........no promotion after that I guess...

High tachi ai against Toyonoshima, a short and skillful guy. Not Ozeki-like.

Yeah. Good the thing the Ozeki who immediately followed was there to set a good example...

(In a state of confusion...)

[Vikanohara 171]

I'm a fan of Toyonoshima, but I must say I find it hard that he had to beat Baruto today. I support Toyonoshima as I have a bit the same physique, but I am also supporting Baruto to become Ozeki, so it's a weird feeling. I should be happy for Toyo, but I feel sorry for Bart.

[Kotononami 86]

I think he will be Ozeki in this Hon-Basho.

No chance.

Are you sure again? (In a state of confusion...)

Now I'm sure :-O

[Doitsuyama 1,185]

I must say I'm a bit bewildered how there can be some kind of consensus that a loss to Toyonoshima (dropping to 8-2) means no ozeki promotion. If we'd talk about yokozuna promotion here I can understand that but it's an ozeki promotion here which allows much more leeway, typically a 33-12 over three basho. A few losses against maegashira here aren't unusual at all, in fact this is Baruto's fifth loss against a maegashira while going 29-11 overall. You could just as well concentrate on his 7-0 record against sanyaku this basho with Asashoryu tomorrow left as his last non-maegashira opponent.

All said, I agree that the chance of an ozeki promotion now is less than 50%, taking a big hit with the loss today. It probably would be better anyway to wait a bit longer, taking this basho as a new start for an ozeki run, since his performances are somewhat unstable (remember that 4-11 a few basho ago?). His sanyaku debut isn't that long ago too.

[ilovesumo 12]

I must say I'm a bit bewildered how there can be some kind of consensus that a loss to Toyonoshima (dropping to 8-2) means no ozeki promotion. If we'd talk about yokozuna promotion here I can understand that but it's an ozeki promotion here which allows much more leeway, typically a 33-12 over three basho. A few losses against maegashira here aren't unusual at all, in fact this is Baruto's fifth loss against a maegashira while going 29-11 overall. You could just as well concentrate on his 7-0 record against sanyaku this basho with Asashoryu tomorrow left as his last non-maegashira opponent.

All said, I agree that the chance of an ozeki promotion now is less than 50%, taking a big hit with the loss today. It probably would be better anyway to wait a bit longer, taking this basho as a new start for an ozeki run, since his performances are somewhat unstable (remember that 4-11 a few basho ago?). His sanyaku debut isn't that long ago too.

At least to me - it's the David vs. Goliath syndrome. If Goliath want's to be Ozeki, he is not supposed to loose vs. such a small guy cause everybody can see that he is physically stronger - so it means he lost cause he wasn't smart enough to use what he has...

(Nothing against Toyo!)

[paolo 0]

Only if he wins all his bouts from tomorrow on (13-2) AND wins the basho ?

[Washuyama 641]

I think we'll have a good idea tomorrow when he faces Asashoryu!

[Sokkenaiyama 81]

13-2 would almost certainly give him the promotion. After a quick glance through the reference, I think a 12-3 should be good for it too. However, he still has to win 4/5 bouts for that. And, of course, you can forget about the yusho, that one has Yokozuna written all over it.

[ryafuji 814]

I don't know if it was nerves but that was a horrible loss today. Hope it doesn't hurt his ozeki chances. He can't afford any more slip ups.

[Gusoyama 103]

Chances of promotion:

13-2 w/ Yusho: 90%

13-2 w/ Jun-Yusho: 80%

12-3 w/ win vs Asa: 70%

12-3 w/ loss to Asa and JY: 50%

12-3 w/ loss to Asa and no JY: 40%

less than 12-3: 0%

[ilovesumo 12]

Chances of promotion:

13-2 w/ Yusho: 90%

13-2 w/ Jun-Yusho: 80%

12-3 w/ win vs Asa: 70%

12-3 w/ loss to Asa and JY: 50%

12-3 w/ loss to Asa and no JY: 40%

less than 12-3: 0%

scientific sources? ;-)

(Whistling...)

(just kidding)

[Gusoyama 103]

scientific sources? (In love...)

(Showing respect...)

(just kidding)

Oh, to clarify, those are my VERY wild guesses. (Sign of disapproval...)

[Torabayama 51]

Taken apart by the tactician... (Applauding...)

[Kuroyama 715]

Taken apart by the tactician... (Applauding...)

Tactician? That too, but how many rikishi other than Asashoryu would actually lift Baruto up off his feet before sending him down?

I don't care what anyone says. Asa's still got it.

[Washuyama 641]

Taken apart by the tactician... (Applauding...)

I would go a little further and say Professor of Tactics. And he taught one helluva clinic today. Baruto avoided any maor mistakes early in the bout, but Asa showed why HE is the Yokozuna! Hopefully Bart can win out. With a 12-3, he may get lucky and move up to Ozeki. But it wouldn't surprise me if the NSK made him wait one more basho. At least he should be able to pull the rarely awarded Shukun-sho for taking down the Hak..

[Asameshimae 220]

Taken apart by the tactician... (Applauding...)

I would go a little further and say Professor of Tactics. And he taught one helluva clinic today. Baruto avoided any maor mistakes early in the bout, but Asa showed why HE is the Yokozuna! Hopefully Bart can win out. With a 12-3, he may get lucky and move up to Ozeki. But it wouldn't surprise me if the NSK made him wait one more basho. At least he should be able to pull the rarely awarded Shukun-sho for taking down the Hak..

Let's call it manhandled. I know Asashoryu probably felt like he wanted to prove something, but to see him flop Baruto to the dirt like a bale of hay (almost literally!), it is hard to think of someone looking less like Ozeki material, at least today. Baruto is and was getting better at not letting wrestlers use his own size/height against him, but there was just too much of him to go around these last two days.

Edited January 20, 2010 by Asanomeshi

[Ruziklao 34]

Let's call it manhandled. I know Asashoryu probably felt like he wanted to prove something, but to see him flop Baruto to the dirt like a bale of hay (almost literally!), it is hard to think of someone looking less like Ozeki material, at least today. Baruto is and was getting better at not letting wrestlers use his own size/height against him, but there was just too much of him to go around these last two days.

Hm. It reminds me of fairly recent experience of one of current Ozeki, suffering double tsuriotoshi from yokozuna, once even while coming 13-2 himself...

[Gusoyama 103]

looks like he'll have to wait at least 1 more basho. If he goes 12-3 this basho, and repeats his performance next basho, he's in.

[Murakami 0]

One of the biggest mistakes the opponents of Asashoryu make is "not keeping up the offensive."

[Asojima 2,874]

One of the biggest mistakes the opponents of Asashoryu make is "not keeping up the offensive."

When you are up to your ass in alligators, it is difficult to remember that you started out to drain the swamp. (Applauding...)

[Jakusotsu 5,969]

Let's call it manhandled. I know Asashoryu probably felt like he wanted to prove something, but to see him flop Baruto to the dirt like a bale of hay (almost literally!), it is hard to think of someone looking less like Ozeki material, at least today.

I disagree. Baruto looked very much Ozeki material for the most part of the bout. To keep Asashoryu in check for that long is not an easy feat.

[HenryK 38]

The first candidate for "ozumo bout of the year".

[Washuyama 641]

When you are up to your ass in alligators, it is difficult to remember that you started out to drain the swamp. B-)

Well said! (Sign of approval...)

[Murakami 0]

One of the biggest mistakes the opponents of Asashoryu make is "not keeping up the offensive."

When you are up to your ass in alligators, it is difficult to remember that you started out to drain the swamp. (Sign of approval...)

Still, Baruto had a good chance to take the initiative. From that position, he should have flung open Asa's right hand for a diversion. Then right foothold inside. twist to the left and at the same time raising and hurling Asa forward by his left shoulder over the right foothold. And then left hand on the neck to finish.