I'm definitely in the camp that hates the WC game and wishes it didn't exist, but even considering that it does, I don't think it should be considered part of the post-season.
MLB considers it part of the post-season and hypes it to high heaven because of that. It really shouldn't be. If we have to have it, it should be treated like a playoff at the end of the regular season, with the winner going to the post season. Then, in theory, people would be less up in arms when they lose. Especially - as with the Yankees, and tonight more than likely my Pirates - when they're the team that should by rights have qualified but are now eliminated. I'm sure Houston and Chicago are delighted that the wild card game exists this season, no complaints from them.
Really annoys me though that after playing 162 games, MLB decided "y'know what, we'll give the team that finishes fifth in the league another chance, for no particular reason other than making more money. 162 games wasn't enough to decide if they're good enough or not".
Last year everyone was up in arms because both WC teams made the WS. But at least both WC winners that year were the teams that would've gone through anyway. KC finished a game ahead of Oakland, and the Giants beat the Pirates based on head-to-head results. Then both won their wild card games. So order was effectively restored.
Can you imagine the uproar if the 2015 world series is the Astros vs. the Cubs? I mean, not just because it's the Astros vs. the Cubs, but because it's the two teams who 'least deserved' to be there. The Cubs finished THIRD in their division, and if they do get to the world series, would've played both of the top two in their own division again. They'd get all the way to the NLCS without playing a team outside their own division. That just seems silly.
Should be division winners and the next best team overall.
Ok, rant over. You can have your Yankees thread back now.