After the Springfield Sluggers posted three losing seasons in a row over the past three seasons, the team's owners re-signed the team's manager, Hal Higgins, to a new five-year contract. This decision surprised many baseball fans because, ordinarily, when a team fails repeatedly to post a winning record, the team's manager is fired.

Which of the following, if true, provides the best indication that the Springfield Sluggers' owners' decision was logically well supported?

A. During his last stint as a manager for another team Higgins had a winning record, although another manager rumored to be interested in the position has won pennant titles.
B. The Baseball Owners' Association is considering a new profit-sharing plan that will allow teams with smaller television audiences, such as the Springfield Sluggers, a greater share of television revenues.
C. The Springfield Sluggers, an expansion team with no star players and a small team payroll, has shown consistently improved performance over the past three years, and finally posted a winning record in the second half of last season.
D. Sports journalists and irate fans in Capitol City, home of the Capitol City Cougars, a rival team to the Springfield Sluggers, recently succeeded in their campaign to have the team's manager fired because of the team's lackluster record.
E. Many players on the Springfield Sluggers have had to be replaced after they declared free agency and signed with other teams.

OA C

Source: Manhattan Prep