Pete Donovan

Baseball Columnist at The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA)

Writer at Freelance

Featured in: Favicon

desertsun.com Favicon

yahoo.com

newsbreak.com Favicon

visaliatimesdelta.com Favicon

vvdailypress.com Favicon

sports.yahoo.com

Articles

Mike Trout is hitting home runs, but what's wrong with the slumping Angels slugger

2 days ago | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

Once upon a time we thought Mike Trout would be Mickey Mantle. Turns out in 2025, he’s becoming Adam Dunn. Dunn, a free-swinging outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds 20 years ago, routinely hit 40 homers a season (in fact four straight years of exactly 40) while leading the majors in strikeouts three times. Trout, now 33 and coming off multiple injuries in recent seasons, has eight home runs, tied for second in the majors. He’s struck out 25 times in 21 games, including 11 in his last six games.
Reflecting on 1954 and the golden year of baseball in New York

2 weeks ago | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

It is said that the “Golden Age of Baseball” is when you are 11 years old. For me, that would be 1954 (skip the math, that means I’ll be 82 in a few days). I was born and raised a Yankees fan in Brooklyn. It was a glorious time; we had three teams in New York, three very compelling, popular and dynamic teams. Three teams, the Yankees, the Dodgers and the Giants, you could easily embrace. Each team had a Hall of Fame center fielder Willie, Mickey and the Duke.
Major League Baseball predictions: Where will every team finish in 2025?

3 weeks ago | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

Click here for important updates to our privacy policy. Pete DonovanSpecial to The Desert SunPredicting pennant races in early April is precarious at best. Picking winners is always challenging, but picking last-place teams is easier than ever: the White Sox, Marlins, Rockies and Angels all figure to be horrible and seem destined to finish at the bottom of their respective divisions. Still, here’s my annual Take-A-Shot-At-It.American League East1. Orioles: Organization is at the top. 2.
Are Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels looking at another fractured season?

1 month ago | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

There are more than just those 28 freeway miles that separate the Dodgers and the Angels. While Los Angeles basks in the glory of Dodger Blue with record-setting attendance, future Hall of Famers on the roster and a recent World Series trophy, the Angels just might be headed to an historic horrifying season.
Baseball's golden numbers add up to 300 wins, 500 homers and 3,000 career hits

1 month ago | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

Pete DonovanSpecial to The Desert SunThere are three significant benchmarks in baseball career numbers – 300, 500 and 3,000. As in wins, home runs and hits. These golden numbers elevate the pedestrian career to the pinnacle and mean a straight pass to Cooperstown if there are no blemishes on that record. None are easy to achieve and rarer to do with just one team.
Patrick Mahomes already among elite Super Bowl-winning quarterback company

2 months ago | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

Pete DonovanSpecial to The Desert SunIt's finally Super Bowl week, with Sunday's big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. Here's a 5 on 5, Super Bowl version. 5 Quarterbacks who have won 3 or more Super Bowls:*Tom Brady: 7 (New England, Tampa Bay)*Terry Bradshaw: 4 (Pittsburgh)Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Are the superteam Los Angeles Dodgers bad for baseball?

Jan 21, 2025 | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

Pete DonovanSpecial to The Desert SunSure, I’m a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Have been for a long time. From the Koufax-Drysdale dynamo to Fernandomania to Clayton Kershaw all through the melodic tones of the great Vin Scully, I’ve been with them. Oh, I also root for that other team with the Halos near Disneyland, but let’s face it, that’s not nearly as much fun. No the Dodgers are the deal. I like it that they win. A lot. And make good deals. A lot. And spend money. A lot of it.
Addition of Blake Snell continues Los Angeles Dodgers' trend of acquiring high-priced talent

Dec 3, 2024 | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

Once upon a time, many, many years ago in a place called Brooklyn, there was a baseball team called the Dodgers. They were young and colorful. They grew up together and everyone loved them. And they were good. They were called The Boys of Summer – PeeWee and Campy and Duke and Jackie. All together. Season after season, year after year. They were the Dodgers. We all knew their names, many knew where they lived and their families names.
What's next for Los Angeles Dodgers? Looking ahead to 2025 season as team seeks repeat title

Nov 5, 2024 | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

It is the best of times. It is the worst of times. For baseball fans. It can’t get any better for Los Angeles Dodgers fans who watched their team grind through a rough, injury-plagued 162-game schedule, and three emotional, dramatic playoff series culminated by a Freddie Freeman-fueled World Series championship. For all fans, there is no more baseball this year. Not until March of NEXT year will we see the glorious game unfold once again. This is the worst of times for baseball fans.
Dodgers vs. Yankees: A look at 5 of the most memorable World Series matchups

Oct 22, 2024 | desertsun.com | Pete Donovan

With apologies to those fans in San Diego, Cleveland and other points across the major league landscape, this is the World Series most of us wanted to see: The Dodgers and Yankees! Broadway vs. Hollywood. The two most successful franchises in the history of the game. Aaron Judge vs. Shohei Ohtani! Let the cameras roll. This is the 12th time in history the two have met in the World Series. Here are five of the most memorable clashes:Oct.