First of all, can you guess what the “X” and the “Y” represent [the two columns just to the left of the "Y" column are attendance figures]?

Put yourself in the place as the Athletics owner while looking at this table: what do you think about this?

Would you instruct your general manager to increase the money spent on player salaries when your average team’s attendance is much lower than the average American League team -- even as your team has a better than average win percentage and is competitive?

If revenue and league revenue-sharing are combined and operating costs are subtracted to get to gross profit, then looking at this table would you be more apt to: 1) raise operating costs in the hopes that your product quality increases while bringing in more revenue or 2) trim operating costs hoping that the total combined revenue might cover costs and generate more gross profit (or less of a loss)?

Would you pull a Jed Clampett and “move away from there”; going to a place where fielding a winning product might actually be rewarded with something better than what you’re currently getting from your customers (fans)?

If the team’s valuation – in the hypothetical event that you go to sell it – continues to increase, does it render the previous questions moot?

Is it risky to assume that the team’s valuation – in the hypothetical event that you go to sell it – will continue to increase given the macroeconomic landscape going forward?

Because baseball operations isn’t your only money-making venture, should you subsidize the baseball operations just because you have the ability to do so and because you want your supportive [?] fans happy? [if “yes”, recheck “X” and “Y”]