Garland to face White Sox on Thursday

Hurler set to face former team Thursday in Anaheim

By Mark Gonzales | Tribune staff reporter

12:20 AM CDT, May 13, 2008

ANAHEIM - Jon Garland claims he won't get wrapped up in the emotions of facing his former White Sox teammates when he pitches Thursday for the Los Angeles Angels.

Garland said he learned to isolate his thoughts while pitching the last four of his eight seasons with the Sox under manager Ozzie Guillen.

"In that clubhouse, as a player, you almost had to," Garland said Monday. "Let's face it—he's going to be in that clubhouse, screaming and yelling every day. Some guys like it, some guys don't. If you're trying to prepare for a game and that's what's going on, that's him. He can be that way. That's just the way I went about it. Other guys might not care.

"It didn't bother me."

While Garland said he appreciated that Guillen took some of the pressure off his players, he would retreat to a quiet area if he was pitching that day or was experiencing a bad day.

"Jon got me a [World Series] ring and made me smart every five days he went to the mound," Guillen said. "He's got his style, I got my style."

Garland downplayed his matchup against the Sox, saying it was just another start and that he needed to pitch with more efficiency. He admitted he has exchanged text messages with some Sox players this season.

"Seeing Garland in that red uniform is going to look very strange," first baseman Paul Konerko said.

Garland (4-3) has allowed one run in his last 16 innings after posting a 5.95 ERA in April. But he is uncommitted as to whether he wants to stay with the Angels or explore free agency after this season.

"Early on, I think I was pressing," Garland said. "I was trying to be here for my teammates and try to show what I was capable of doing. I got caught up in trying to do too much."

He has struck out only 12 in 521/3 innings.

Farm report

Class A Winston-Salem left-hander Aaron Poreda, the Sox's first pick in the 2007 draft, pitched six shutout innings Monday night against Lynchburg.

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