Today we have a White Sox history lesson, so let’s turn to chapter 2004 and the page on pitching.

The statistics show a veritable black hole in the fifth spot of the starting rotation: a 5-15 record and 9.08 earned-run average in 25 starts.

Now, let’s jump ahead to chapter 2005, when the White Sox won the World Series with a rotation that had only two starters in the No. 5 hole as Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez and Brandon McCarthy combined for a 12-11 record and 4.90 ERA in 32 starts.

Now close the book and look ahead to the 2010 season, when general manager Ken Williams — the architect of that championship team — believes history can repeat itself.

He calls the rotation of Jake Peavy, Mark Buehrle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Freddy Garcia “our anchor.”

The key? Garcia, who ironically was one of the Big Four in 2005.

“He pitches out of No. 5, but he’s not a No. 5,” Williams said.

Basically just hoping to save his career at this time last year, Garcia has made a remarkable comeback from shoulder problems, at least given his performance last September in his second tour of duty with the Sox.

In his last six starts he was 3-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Projected over an entire season, those stats would make him among the best fifth starters in baseball.

Of course, history is made on the field, not on paper.

“We just want him to do what he did at the end of last year. We’re not expecting more,” Williams said. “The great thing is he’s further away from his injury, which could translate into something really special out of that fifth spot.”

A slimmed-down Garcia, 33, claims he is completely healthy and 30-plus starts is not out of the question.

“Why not? I have a new shoulder, so we’ll see what happens,” he said.”

Actually, the shoulder isn’t new, just rejuvenated after the Mets released him last spring.

So, can this Sox rotation be as good as the 2005 version, including a postseason when it rolled through three rounds of playoffs?

“It’s pretty good, man,” Garcia said.

But 2005 good?

“Really good,” he said.

Buehrle. part of the championship group with Garcia, Jose Contreras and Jon Garland, was even more upbeat. .

“I don’t recall a time coming into spring training I’ve been more excited about the staff we have,” he said. “Adding a guy like Peavy makes everybody better.”

Peavy was 3-0 with the Sox in September after coming back from injury and 92-68 for the Padres overall.

The key will be keeping all five starters healthy, and the key to that is Garcia.

“I’m not afraid for Freddy Garcia to go up against anyone because he can shut anyone down,” Williams said. “Whether it be drafting guys or trading, it has taken a long time to get us to this point of one through five can match up with anyone.”

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