Omar Daal, the great left-handed pitcher of the Leones del Caracas and his 50th birthday (+Videos)

Harold Capote Fernandez

If the statistics prove anything, it is that Omar Daal is the best left-handed starter in the rich history of Leones del Caracas, and may Pablo Torrealba forgive us.

During his time as an active pitcher, the native of Zulia state marked an era with the long-haired, to the point that on a couple of occasions in the 90s, he earned the Pitcher of the Year award in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP).

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Today, on the occasion of his 50th birthday, we take a look at what his track record was both in Creole ball and at the highest level of ball.

Omar Daal, what a lefty for the Lions!

During the 1990/1991 season Omar Jesús Daal Cordero made his debut with the cast of the capital, at 18 years old he was on the mound for 1 inning.

For his second tournament, he quickly gained importance in the Caraquista pitcher scheme, something that was reflected in the 46.2 pitched stretches, leaving a 2-4 mark with a 5.21 ERA.

Already in 1992/1993 he established himself as one of the best arms in the LVBP, leaving an average of 2.43 earned runs allowed in 43.1 innings with a 2-1 record.

After a discreet performance in 1993/1994, for 1994/1995 he experienced a fantastic season, covering the route for 94.2 sections and a balance of 6-2.

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After that, his moment came at the top of Creole pitching, because in 1995/1996 his ERA was even better, 1.68 in 96.2 episodes and a great 10-2 mark. That performance was more than enough to be recognized as Pitcher of the Year.

Photo: Courtesy

That prize monopolized it again in the following championship. In 1996/1997, he showed an even better level with an ERA of 1.49 and a record of 9-1 in addition to winning the Gold Glove, in both tournaments his whip was 1.11 and 1.05 respectively.

Photo: Courtesy

From that point on, he was gradually seen less on the national diamonds, always showing a good level, motivated by his increasing responsibilities in the Major Leagues.

In the LVBP he left global numbers of 39-21, ERA of 2.59, whip of 1.26 in 12 seasons, always with Caracas.

Omar Daal in the Big Show

Unlike Venezuelan baseball, his journey in the best baseball in the world was marked by moments of ups and downs, being his sweetest moments with the uniform of the Arizona D-Backs.

In the service of the snakes, in the first season of the cast in 1998, Daal, in the midst of a season marked by high production of home runs and runs, left a great ERA of 2.88 in 162.2 innings, winning 8 and losing 12.

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Although his ERA the following year rose to 3.65, he was able to emerge victorious 16 times, an unprecedented number for Venezuelan left-handed pitchers in the majors. In fact, in that 1999 he was involved in a great competition with “El Torpedo”, Freddy García, to establish what was then the maximum number of victories achieved by a Creole starter in a season.

Garcia, tackling the Seattle Mariners, ended up winning 17 times.

In total, Omar Daal in the Major Leagues, won 68, lost 78 with a 4.55 ERA with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2 stages), Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles.

His laurels at the time placed him as the second most successful Venezuelan left-hander in the Big Show, only behind Wilson Álvarez (102). Both were surpassed by Johan Santana (139).