Keeping Score: Why Mussina Belongs in the Hall. Statistical analysis makes a strong case for Mike Mussina’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame.

Judge Dismisses Three of 15 Counts Against Bonds. A federal judge dismissed three counts from the indictment against Barry Bonds which alleges he made false statements under oath. But baseball’s career home-run leader still faces 12 other charges.

Sports of The Times: Giving the Mets’ New Ballpark a Bad Name. As Citigroup grovels for a bailout from public funds, the Mets insist the name of their new ballpark, Citi Field, will not change.

Roundup: Yanks’ Swisher Striving to Beef Up His Offense. Nick Swisher, acquired by the Yankees last week, posted the lowest batting average, .219 of his five-year career.

Roundup: Mariners Hire the First Asian-American Manager. Don Wakamatsu, became the first Asian-American manager in the Major League Baseball when he was hired Wednesday by the Seattle Mariners.

Japanese Are Irked by U.S. Interest in Pitcher. As the first high-profile Japanese baseball prospect to spurn his nation’s leagues to entertain offers from the U.S., Junichi Tazawa has strained relations between leagues on two continents.

Mets’ Murphy to Miss Winter Ball. Daniel Murphy, expected to platoon with Fernando Tatis in left field for the Mets next season, strained his right hamstring while playing in the Arizona Fall League.

Hip Surgery Could Keep Utley Inactive Until June. Chase Utley, the Phillies’ hard-nosed, All-Star second baseman, will have surgery on his right hip that may keep him out of the lineup until early June.

Hal Steinbrenner Is Named the Yankees’ Boss. The younger and more reserved of the Steinbrenner sons was approved as the control person of the Yankees in a unanimous vote by Major League Baseball owners.

Mussina Announces Retirement. Mike Mussina, who turns 40 next month, is leaving after his first season of 20 victories.

At a Time of Loss, Seattle Fans Hold On to Hope. Seattle, which lost its pro basketball team as its football and baseball teams floundered, has, in one fan’s words, “the worst sports scene in the history of sports scenes.”

Volcker Gives Baseball an Update on the Economy. Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, spoke to baseball owners about the nation’s economy without specifically addressing how the league would be affected.

Troubled Citigroup Says It Will Keep Naming Deal With Mets. Citigroup, which agreed in 2006 to a 20-year, $400 million contract to name the Mets’ new stadium Citi Field, will keep the deal despite recently absorbing billions of dollars in losses.

Mets Search for a Closer and a Cast to Help Him. As the Mets appear to be closing in on a prominent closer, they have yet to aggressively address the other bullpen problems that led to their missing the playoffs.

Roundup: Bonds Has Three Counts Dismissed. A federal judge dismissed three counts from the indictment against Barry Bonds that claimed that Bonds made false statements under oath.

Yankees Expect Big Things From Canó and Rodriguez. Yankees’ hitting coach Kevin Long says he expects both Robinson Canó and Alex Rodriguez to improve by April.

McNamee Gave DNA Samples to Investigators. Brian McNamee has submitted his DNA to investigators, who are seeking to determine whether Roger Clemens committed perjury, according to two persons familiar with the matter.

Some Players Take Part in Education Programs. Over the last six months, about two dozen of the players named in the Mitchell report have participated in community-service projects tied to drug education.

All Is Unusually Quiet on the Free-Agent Front. The meager amount of activity more in the free-agency period, raises the question as to whether the nation’s economic crisis is affecting baseball’s marketplace.

11 Months Later, Some Praise for Baseball. George J. Mitchell said the players and ownership have made substantial improvements in drug-testing policy.

Pirates Add Reality to Reality Show in India. By signing contracts with two young men from India, the otherwise nondescript Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves flooded with interview requests.

First-Time Positive Results Withheld. Major League Baseball said it would not make public the number of players who tested positive for amphetamines for the first time in 2008, reversing an earlier statement.

Going Local Is Unlikely for Orioles. Mark Teixeira and A. J. Burnett, two prominent available players, each have connections to Maryland, but that does not mean either will be persuaded to sign with the Baltimore Orioles.

Roundup: With Several Bullpen Spots to Fill, Mets Are Making Sure to Explore All Options. Junichi Tazawa, the Japanese pitcher whose courtship by major league teams has irritated Japanese baseball officials, is close to signing with the Boston Red Sox, according to news reports.

Yankees Don’t Offer Free Agents Arbitration. The Yankees did not offer salary arbitration by the Monday deadline to Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu or the four other players who were eligible for it.