It most definitely qualifies. Kirk made it a point to mention to the Commodore that Spock served under Pike on the Enterprise, but his own older brother did not?
The show is trying to put a square peg into a round hole.
This is the biggest problem with the series. It's really not good at maintaining canon.
Here's the quote you're fixating on:
MENDEZ: You ever met Chris Pike?
KIRK: When he was promoted to Fleet Captain.
MENDEZ: About your age. Big, handsome man, vital, active.
KIRK: I took over the Enterprise from him. Spock served with him for several years.
SPOCK: Eleven years, four months, five days.
MCCOY: What's his problem, Commodore?
MENDEZ: Inspection tour of a cadet vessel. Old Class J starship. One of the baffle plates ruptured.
MCCOY: The delta rays?
MENDEZ: He went in bringing out all those kids that were still alive. Just wanted you gentlemen to be prepared.
They're only talking about Pike, in a critical situation that
directly involves Pike. Why on earth would he mention any one else, related or not, in that situation? The Queen of England could have been at helm back then, and it's still not relevant to bring up in a situation about Pike alone.
"Yeah, we really need to figure out why Spock faked an order from Pike to redirect the ship, but let me first go over the bridge crew from back then..."
That you're annoyed that Sam wasn't mentioned in a distressful and uncertain situation
that had nothing to do with him in the slightest, is such a reach. That conversation was about Pike and Spock, and Pike and Spock alone.