OPINION

By Gerry Fraley

updated 2:18 a.m. ET Oct. 7, 2008

CHICAGO - When Joe Maddon became manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, friends offered their condolences.

It was bad enough that he had signed on with a franchise that had won as many as 70 games only once since debuting in 1998. Maddon would also have to deal with the headache of a hard life in the American League East.

That meant playing more than 20 percent of the schedule against the biggest heavyweights in the game: the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. An extra 18 games against the regular third-place team, the Toronto Blue Jays, was not a treat, either.

Get out of the East, the friends said.

"Why?" asked Maddon.

"What better battle testing can you possibly get than going to Fenway often and going to Yankee Stadium often, and of course Baltimore and Toronto?" Maddon said. "Having played in Fenway as often as we have and a full Yankee Stadium prepares you for these moments. I love playing in the American League East."

It has all paid off this season.

The Rays proved again on Monday that they are oblivious to the pressures of postseason baseball. They closed out their A.L. Division Series by beating the Chicago White Sox, 6-2, at U.S. Cellular Park.

"It means everything," said center fielder B.J. Upton, who had two home runs Monday. "We've been at the bottom of the barrel for so long. I think there was a point in time when people didn't even know who we were."

The nonbelievers dwindle.

Before Game 4, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen suggested the Rays would begin feeling the pressure because they had lost on Sunday. Guillen has not been paying attention.

The Rays won their first game after the All-Star break to take over the lead in the East, and they didn't trail the rest of the way. The first race in franchise history hardened the Rays. They are acting like a team that has been here every year for a decade.

"This is a special group of guys," Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena said. "It's rare to see a young team this poised, so focused on the present. That is so important."

Eight pitches into Monday's game, the Rays responded to Guillen. Upton drove a Gavin Floyd fastball for a homer, giving the Rays a 1-0 lead. Upton homered again in the third, also against Floyd, pushing the edge to 2-0.

The Rays were home free. Typical of their season, the White Sox scored on solo homers by Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye but did little else on offense. They did not have an at-bat with a runner in scoring position.

"We're getting used to celebrating," said Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine, who took the lead into the sixth inning. "I believe that is a really good thing for this franchise. It's awesome any time you can run on the field and just jump together. It does wonders for camaraderie. That's something we've had all year."

The Rays steam into the A.L. Championship Series in good shape.

Their bullpen, a strength all season, was exceptional against the White Sox. The relievers allowed only five hits and one run in 11 2/3 innings. Lefthander J.P. Howell and righthander Grant Balfour, getting late-game work with closer Troy Percival out, retired 10 of the final 12 hitters in this game.

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Upton's performance was a hopeful sign for the offense.

Limited by an ailing left shoulder, Upton had a significant power drop this season. He went from 24 homers and a .508 slugging percentage in 2007 to nine homers and a .401 slugging percentage this season.

Upton's power began to return in this series. In his final 10 at-bats, he had three homers and a triple.

"I've been battling it all year, and I got away from my approach," Upton said. "The last couple days, I've gotten back to my strength and gotten a couple of pitches to hit."

Upton said the confidence level within the clubhouse builds every day. He also recognizes the doubters remain.

"We hear it, but it's fuel for the fire," Upton said. "We feed off that, and it's showing now."

One more A.L. East challenge remains: Boston, starting Friday at the Rays' home. There are legitimate hard feelings between the clubs. That happens in the East.

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