You know who’s going to have a good 2008? Jon Garland. He’s one of the more misunderstood players in MLB and today I came across an article (via BBTF) debunking a lot of the myths that seem to have surrounded this guy for years.

A lot of the reasons people overlook him are pretty superficial. For one, he played for the championship-winning White Sox, a team I think most (somewhat unfairly) feel was a fluke. But Garland also has the temperament of a monk. He’s slow, methodical, and doesn’t react to much — which in America is often interpreted as being boring and disinterested.

“Even fans sometimes see my demeanor and they don’t like it. I never understood it growing up,” Garland said. “In the minor leagues they never want you to show emotion, or they want you to be the same person. That’s what I try to do. But once the guys get to know me …”

Now he’s moving over to one of baseball’s best organizations, a team that year-in-and-year-out competes for the AL pennant. I can’t say he’ll win 20, but I could see him flirting with 18.

He’s the only right-hander in White Sox history to register at least 10 wins and 30 starts for six straight seasons. But people see his 10-13 record and 4.23 ERA from a year ago and cringe that Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera was traded for a pitcher with a losing record.

Therein lies another myth. Garland posted 21 quality starts (six innings or more, three earned runs or fewer) last season to lead the Sox.