Final answer:
The financial information of sports teams like the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees can change annually based on various revenue sources and expenses. For a baseball team owner, analyzing the data on player salaries and team winning percentage could provide insights into investment decisions. Statistical analysis can also reveal disparities in team performance across different league divisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The financial status of the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees, or any other professional sports organization, is not static and can vary from year to year based on a number of factors, including revenue from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and other business ventures associated with the team. It's also influenced by the team's expenses, which include player salaries, stadium costs, and organizational operations.
The owner of a baseball team being interested in the relationship between player salaries and team winning percentage should consider conducting a statistical analysis with the gathered data from the sample of 100 players. This would help determine if there's a significant correlation that can inform future decisions regarding team investments and salary allocations.
Regarding the 2012 season and the apparent disparity between the American League divisions, a statistical test such as ANOVA could be used to assess whether there were significant differences in the mean number of wins per team across the three divisions.