The Red Sox are opening the 2011 season against the Rangers, who just so happen to be the reigning American League Champions. Boston has started off three straight seasons with battles against the AL champions. They beat Tampa Bay and New York in the last two, but lost to Texas on Friday. "We just go where they tell us," said Boston manager Terry Francona. "It really doesn't matter. You better stack up against everybody. It's too long of a season. We just need to play who we play and try to play better than they do." The manager was asked Friday if his team felt extra pressure after many analysts tabbed it as the favorite to win the American League East. "I don't know what to guard against. I don't know that I really understand the concern there," said Francona of preseason predictions. "If somebody picked us last or somebody picked us first, our expectations in the clubhouse are always high. They'd better be. ... People like to talk about it. I don't see any harm in that. It's not going to help us win games or lose games. To be honest with you, the expectations in our clubhouse are high. They should be. That's what's important to us."