Displaying the Results (Represent)

Looking at what we've done so far, we can begin to fashion a simple representation to show each row of data with the team name and logo, win-loss record, and salary. Given two major variables (win-loss record and salary), it might seem reasonable to use the x- and y-axes. However, the question we have in mind is not simply "Do salary and performance correlate?," so an X and Y scatterplot is a less useful representation.

Our question implies a ranking because we're comparing teams. Ranking usually means a list, so we'll start by sorting the two lists in descending order, and then we'll connect each team's win-loss record to its salary with a line. The connecting lines—not the individual win-loss record or salary—becomes the outstanding element of the display. This is appropriate for our original question, because the lines show the relationships we're interested in. And after creating the basic display in this section, the rest of the chapter uses various techniques to emphasize the impact of the lines.