The new Baruto

[Kintamayama 45,111]

No more public after-win smiles, no more fooling around - the time has come. He has a hitherto unseen demeanor about him broadcasting one thing- Serious, dude. All future Yokozuna undergo this metamorphosis when their Oyakata takes them aside and says, "This is it-get serious- you're not a Sekiwake anymore..." all three bouts so far made his pretty formidable opponents look like rag dolls.

The Kyokai is debating if they should promote him directly to Yokozuna.

[Notsukutsu 0]

The Kyokai is debating if they should promote him directly to Yokozuna.

You have to be kidding. (In jonokuchi...)

[Ruziklao 34]

The Kyokai is debating if they should promote him directly to Yokozuna.

You have to be kidding. (In jonokuchi...)

Of course not! (Holiday feeling...)

[Takamizawa 0]

all three bouts so far made his pretty formidable opponents look like rag dolls.

I loved how the initial nodawa at the tachi-ai sent Kise alllll the way back to the tawara (In jonokuchi...)

[pisipepu 0]

I wonder how many more he can do without touching opponents belt? And if his thumb is really injured and this is not just some hoax to lure stronger opponents of week 2 into beltwrestling (who knows...), then question is also - how much more wins can he take...

BTW - good one on Yokozuna (In jonokuchi...)

[Vikanohara 171]

Will he (just like previous basho when everyone started to talk about Ozeki) be jynxed or not, that's the question ? (In jonokuchi...)

[Kintamayama 45,111]

Will he (just like previous basho when everyone started to talk about Ozeki) be jynxed or not, that's the question ? (In jonokuchi...)

The word "Ozeki" was never mentioned in this thread, until you mentioned it, of course..

[Barang 0]

Baruto-san will be next Ozeki (In my wild dreams (Clapping wildly...) )

[ilovesumo 12]

Strongest guy should be on top. People like him. Why not.

[Kotoviki 16]

Believe me, until now he wasn't nearly as serious as he is now!! Before the basho he told me this is what HE WANTS and he wants it bad!! He's still the same guy off the dohyo but on the dohyo is another story. today I waited for him at the hanamichi, he was very pleased with himself but said he has much further to go!!

I hope he can keep this up!!!! I hope he shoves Hakuho out the same way Kise went!!!! (Clapping wildly...)

[wanderer 159]

Believe me, until now he wasn't nearly as serious as he is now!! Before the basho he told me this is what HE WANTS and he wants it bad!! He's still the same guy off the dohyo but on the dohyo is another story. today I waited for him at the hanamichi, he was very pleased with himself but said he has much further to go!!

I hope he can keep this up!!!! I hope he shoves Hakuho out the same way Kise went!!!! (Clapping wildly...)

One thing Baruto impresses me with is his ability to make a real progress. With this kind of forward moving sumo, it looks difficult to stop him. He might even clinch Yokozuna barring serious injuries.

[shumitto 418]

There was some people here saying then Ama and now Harumafuji would never make it, and others declared the same about Baruto. Harumafuji proved his critics wrong so is doing Baruto, specially with regards to his low and defensive tachiai.

Good to see it going on and on... hopefully he won't return to bad habits once being "lifted".

Edited March 16, 2010 by shumitto

[Treblemaker 254]

If anything, the thumb injury will make him a better rikishi. Less Baruto Crane and mawashi reliant, and more push and drive. There are a few people who can counter this method, and it involves a good henka. Baruto also has problems with really small guys. If he ever learns to use his brain and start to read people rather than simply out-muscling them, he'd be unstoppable.

People compare him with Osh. There's a huge difference. Centre of gravity, for one. Baruto is so much lower to the ground. Also, Osh, when bent over too far, is very unstable. His legs are too long.

I always get the image (when seeing the two of them square off) of an elephant fighting a giraffe.

[Doitsuyama 1,185]

There was some people here saying then Ama and now Harumafuji would never make it, and others declared the same about Baruto.

Umm... I don't remember much of that in this forum. The general consensus was more like he will make it. After his injury there was uncertainty how he could cope with that, but his strength was never much argued, at least I remember it this way.

[pisipepu 0]

Quite different fight today. Not even attempt to lay some thrusts, standing up high etc - like "old" Baruto. What was still good - he was active and he won :) But he will not win against Hakuho or Kotooshu or Harumafuji with sumo like today, so he needs to reload his guns with proper thrusts again for these guys. BTW, he used his left hand quite boldly, so probably thumb is healing. If that mean return to this kind of sumo, then i am not sure this is good...

[Takamizawa 0]

Quite different fight today. Not even attempt to lay some thrusts, standing up high etc - like "old" Baruto. What was still good - he was active and he won :) But he will not win against Hakuho or Kotooshu or Harumafuji with sumo like today, so he needs to reload his guns with proper thrusts again for these guys. BTW, he used his left hand quite boldly, so probably thumb is healing. If that mean return to this kind of sumo, then i am not sure this is good...

I would blame this more on Aminishiki's ability to "parry" at the tachi-ai. Still, made for an exciting match.

Edited March 17, 2010 by Takamizawa

[Jakusotsu 5,969]

BTW, he used his left hand quite boldly, so probably thumb is healing.

I disagree. Looked like he couldn't get a grip at all and would have won much quicker if he did.

[Asashosakari 19,319]

Umm... I don't remember much of that in this forum. The general consensus was more like he will make it. After his injury there was uncertainty how he could cope with that, but his strength was never much argued, at least I remember it this way.

I also don't remember all that many affirmative comparisons between Kotooshu and Baruto; seems to me their fundamental differences were always pretty well recognized.

[Treblemaker 254]

Umm... I don't remember much of that in this forum. The general consensus was more like he will make it. After his injury there was uncertainty how he could cope with that, but his strength was never much argued, at least I remember it this way.

I also don't remember all that many affirmative comparisons between Kotooshu and Baruto; seems to me their fundamental differences were always pretty well recognized.

Aside from the fact that they're two huge white guys, they're completely different in build and style.

In the long run, I see Baruto (once he gains the ozeki title) being far more successful and consistent than Osh. Add the fact that Osh has had that heya protection, and his numbers have generally benefitted from it. Physically, I think Baruto has the advantage, as well as mentally. Fewer mental melt-downs, less distractable.

Once they're both fighting on a level ozeki playing field, I envision a long-standing rivalry in the works.

[Gusoyama 103]

In the long run, I see Baruto (once he gains the ozeki title) being far more successful and consistent than Osh. Add the fact that Osh has had that heya protection, and his numbers have generally benefitted from it. Physically, I think Baruto has the advantage, as well as mentally. Fewer mental melt-downs, less distractable.

Once they're both fighting on a level ozeki playing field, I envision a long-standing rivalry in the works.

The elephant in the room with Baruto is his knee. It can not be 100%, it never will be, and will always be a weak point. He's got to keep it healthy for any chance of getting to Ozeki and staying there.

The rivalry between Osh and Baruto would be great, if Osh could get a little more excited about, well, anything. I'm more excited about my morning tea than Osh is during a yusho run.

[pisipepu 0]

As there is sometimes talk about wether Baruto is ready to be ozeki or wether his sumo quality is up to oz level, i did some meaningless number-crunching. Starting from his last KK-after-MK (64 bouts) winning percentages are

Baruto - 75%

Yokozunas -

Hakuho 92,2%

Asashoryu 80%

Ozekis

Harumafuij 64%

Kotoshu 68,8%

Kaio 54,7%

Kotomitsuki 56,1%

Chiotaikai 29,3%

(with last 2 i didnt count bouts not fought due injury)

Of course we all know recent numbers, but to just once more to rub it in, seems to me that at least last 4-5 tournaments he has been more ozeki than other ozekis... ;)

[shumitto 418]

Well, I pretty much remember some saying that with a bad a knee and a high defensive tachiai he would NEVER make it. I'm not referring to last year's comments, but to when he first rose to Makuuchi and the couple of years thereafter.

[wanderer 159]

As there is sometimes talk about wether Baruto is ready to be ozeki or wether his sumo quality is up to oz level, i did some meaningless number-crunching. Starting from his last KK-after-MK (64 bouts) winning percentages are

Baruto - 75%

Yokozunas -

Hakuho 92,2%

Asashoryu 80%

Ozekis

Harumafuij 64%

Kotoshu 68,8%

Kaio 54,7%

Kotomitsuki 56,1%

Chiotaikai 29,3%

(with last 2 i didnt count bouts not fought due injury)

Of course we all know recent numbers, but to just once more to rub it in, seems to me that at least last 4-5 tournaments he has been more ozeki than other ozekis... ;)

This stat is great. It tells pretty much who is the shoe in for ozeki. Could be nice if it included everyone's before ozeki stats.

[Treblemaker 254]

As there is sometimes talk about wether Baruto is ready to be ozeki or wether his sumo quality is up to oz level, i did some meaningless number-crunching. Starting from his last KK-after-MK (64 bouts) winning percentages are

Baruto - 75%

Yokozunas -

Hakuho 92,2%

Asashoryu 80%

Ozekis

Harumafuij 64%

Kotoshu 68,8%

Kaio 54,7%

Kotomitsuki 56,1%

Chiotaikai 29,3%

(with last 2 i didnt count bouts not fought due injury)

Of course we all know recent numbers, but to just once more to rub it in, seems to me that at least last 4-5 tournaments he has been more ozeki than other ozekis... ;)

This stat is great. It tells pretty much who is the shoe in for ozeki. Could be nice if it included everyone's before ozeki stats.

Very true. Baruto's opponents might not be the same level as the collective ozeki opponents for the same number of basho.

If anyone is up to doing more number noodling, I would love to see winning percentages of pre- and post Ozeki status. HF, for example, had significant numbers before his promotion, and his % now (post-promo) will be quite different.

And in terms of knees - both Osh and Baruto have knee problems, no? Sort of a level playing field?

[Bealzbob 0]

So with a 9-6 in Kyushu '09, what do people reckon he will need to get ozeki rank for Natsu? A repeat of the 12-3 ? Or will it require a 13-2 or a yusho?