Garland: Clubhouse stuff isn't newsworthy

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- There were plenty of opinions about the White Sox' decision to bring blow-up dolls into the clubhouse during a recent series at Toronto.

According to erstwhile Sox starting pitcher Jon Garland, the media should have never reported the "story."

"I personally felt nobody needed to write about it," Garland said. "This is our home, our clubhouse. I feel the job of (the media) is to report on the game.

"I don't think anything seen or heard in the clubhouse needs to be written about. And if you have a problem that's going on in here, you don't have to walk through the (clubhouse) doors. You don't have to see it.

"You have to understand when you walk through those doors, you're coming into our office. I feel privacy has been taken away from us."

Chicago stories: Jon Garland always had a lukewarm relationship with the Chicago media. The starting pitcher said the coverage in Southern California is much more relaxed.

"The big difference (in Chicago) is there's so much comparison between the North Side and South Side," said Garland, who was traded from the Cubs to the White Sox in 1998. "You don't get that here with L.A. and Anaheim, at least I haven't come across it.

"But it seemed like there was always tension, like there was someone trying to get something in Chicago, like the comparison was always there.

"It boggled my mind because there really wasn't. We played them six times a year, and they're always better, they're better. I never really understood that."

Back in the OC: Orlando Cabrera was happy to be back Monday at Angel Stadium, his home for three seasons before the veteran shortstop was traded to the White Sox.

"I didn't think I was ever going to say this before, but I really miss the place," Cabrera said. "I really miss my ex-teammates. Those guys were great to me. The fans here are probably the best fans in baseball right now. I really miss it. Slowly, I'm making the transition to Chicago."

Before the game, Cabrera received the Gold Glove he won last season. Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia made the presentation.