BASEBALL : DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Thumb Injury May Not Put Hill Out

Infielder Donnie Hill, who sprained his left thumb Sunday while trying to catch a pickoff throw by Jim Abbott, is expected to be available to play tonight against Cleveland at Anaheim Stadium.

Hill’s thumb, which was bent back when he tried to tag Dave Henderson, was examined Sunday in Oakland.

General Manager Mike Port said his club’s nine losses in 13 games haven’t changed his evaluation of its talent. “We’re better than we’ve been playing,” he said. “It’s just a matter of how we get ourselves to our capabilities. . . . Sometimes it gets to the point where you have to consider personnel changes, but I don’t think we’re at that point yet.”