Interesting debate I had with some friends. And get over whether MLB counts it, that's not the question. Do YOU count it as a playoff appearance? I don't. If the Cubs made the Wild Card game and lost a one-game playoff, I look at it as they had a chance to make the playoffs by winning a one-game wild card game since they didn't win the division, and they didn't qualify.
This all came up because I've been watching sports since 1986 and the only team I have never seen make the postseason are the Kansas City Royals. It's entirely possible they may only make the Wild Card game and lose, so I was wondering if that should count as ending the drought.