Armando Galarraga Tries to Cash in Venezuelan Connection with Ozzie Guillen

Over the past two years, Armando Galarraga has taken quite a fall.

Not like a Dancing with the Stars or Celebrity Rehab kind of fall, but certainly an "out of baseball" kind of fall.

Two summers ago, Galarraga was the talk of the baseball world—and even the culture at large—for one week in June, after being robbed of a perfect game on a blown call at first base by umpire Jim Joyce (via MLB.com).

Now, after being traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Arizona Diamondbacks, designated for assignment by the D-Backs, then released by the Baltimore Orioles in early April, Galarraga is looking for work.

And he's hoping that a fellow countryman might be able to help him out.

According to the Miami Herald's Manny Navarro, Galarraga's agent recently contacted Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen to see if there might be an opening available for his client.

However, as Navarro points out, starting pitching isn't a need for the Marlins right now. Even if someone in the current major league rotation falters (and all five starters are looking pretty good), Class AAA pitchers Brad Hand and Alex Sanabia are performing well and would be next in line for an open spot.

But can Guillen throw a fellow Venezuelan a bone? Apparently, he's willing to do what he can. 

"I've passed it up the ladder," Guillen told Navarro. "We'll see what happens."

June 2, 2010 was a one-night marvel for Galarraga. He could never really build on the success of that near-perfect effort, compiling a 2-8 record in his next 21 starts for the Tigers.

We know that won-loss record isn't a true reflection of a pitcher's performance, but Galarraga was terribly inconsistent. He'd give up two runs in one start, then four runs the next time out. He could have no walks one game, then five in another. He could get strikeouts with good movement on his slider, then nibble on the edges of the plate and beat himself.

The Tigers couldn't stand the inconsistency anymore and traded Galarraga to the Arizona Diamondbacks before the 2011 season. (It was the second time that the D-Backs had bailed out the Tigers by trading for a pitcher that was going to be designated for assignment or non-tendered.

However, Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski bilked two different D-Backs GMs in the process.) 

If Galarraga's former Venezuelan teammates with the Tigers, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen, catch word of this, maybe they'll try to work the Venezuelan connection, as well. Guillen announced his retirement during spring training, however. Ordonez appeared to announce the end of his major league career on Twitter, but that late March tweet has since been deleted.

Follow @iancass on Twitter or subscribe on Facebook