Tribe set to begin postseason ticketing process

CLEVELAND -- The Indians are not mapping out a parade route just yet, but the team has been granted permission by Major League Baseball to begin the postseason ticketing process.

Heading into Friday's game against the Mets, the Tribe sat three games back of the Rays for the American League's second Wild Card spot. Oakland currently holds the top Wild Card seed in the AL, but the Rays, Yankees, Orioles, Indians and Royals are all within 4 1/2 games of the second slot.

"This is a fun time of year," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "When you show up to the ballpark and you're nervous about the game, that's really exciting. I wish we had a better record, but we're in this every bit as much as about four or five other teams."

Cleveland entered Friday 6 1/2 games behind Detroit for the AL Central lead.

Indians season-ticket holders will soon receive invoices for 2013 postseason tickets, and season-ticket holders who already have renewed tickets for 2014 will have the opportunity to purchase additional tickets.

The Indians have also begun "Playoff Payoff" season-ticket deposits for new season-ticket plans for the 2014 season. Any fan who places a deposit on a 2014 full-season or half-season plan will gain access to 2013 postseason tickets for games at Progressive Field.

Season-ticket holders will also receive substantial discounts on 2013 playoff tickets.

Information regarding postseason tickets for the public will be announced soon, too.

"We've got to keep winning games," Indians first baseman Nick Swisher said. "This team lost close to 100 games last year. For us to just be in this spot, it goes to show you what this organization is doing. We're not only trying to do it for this year, we're trying to build this organization back up.

"We're going to try to go out and get this. This is something we're sitting back on."