Series brings out the kid in everyone

The yelling was so loud Saturday you could hear it from outside the Angels clubhouse. What caused the ruckus, a brawl? A big college football game?

Nope. A 12-year-old outfielder from Georgia came up short on a diving catch attempt in a Little League World Series game on ESPN.

It’s like this every August. The Little League World Series starts in Williamsport, Pa., big leaguers gather in front of their clubhouse televisions, and they get wrapped up in the action as if it has a bearing on the pennant race.

“I asked [radio broadcaster] Terry Smith today, ‘Do you think those kids know that in every major league clubhouse, players are sitting and watching and cheering like little kids for them?’ ” Angels reliever Scot Shields said.

“I don’t know what it is. It’s nice to see kids having fun playing. . . . The emotions are awesome. A kid hits a home run he’s got his hands in the air, his teammates meet him at home plate. It’s cool watching that.”

The players have rooting interests. Kelvim Escobar and Francisco Rodriguez were glued to the TV when Venezuela played. Texas native John Lackey pulled hard Saturday for the team from Lubbock.

“We’re always looking for excuses to talk trash to each other,” Lackey said, “so pick a side and talk trash.”

Lackey is amazed at all the sharp sliders and big curves the kids throw -- “My dad wouldn’t let me throw anything that wasn’t straight,” he said -- and enjoys watching kids from other countries.

“Seeing the team from Japan, their kids are doing stuff like Ichiro [Suzuki] does here,” Lackey said. “It’s funny to see those kids do stuff they see on TV.”

Catcher Mike Napoli, whose rehabilitation from a strained right hamstring was slowed this week by back spasms, increased his running workouts Saturday for the first time in 10 days.

“I didn’t bust it, but I ran at about 50-60% and it felt good,” said Napoli, who has been out since July 28. “No setbacks.”

Napoli is still about a week away from a brief minor league stint, and the Angels don’t want him to rush it and suffer another setback like he did when he tried to run a week and a half ago.

“Hamstrings are high maintenance,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Of all the injuries you talk about, you’re more susceptible to setbacks with hamstrings than anything else.”

Bartolo Colon, out since July 24 because of an elbow irritation, allowed one earned run and three hits in three innings for triple-A Salt Lake Saturday night, striking out one and walking one against Colorado Springs. Making the first of an expected three-start rehab assignment, Colon threw 45 pitches, 30 for strikes. Though he hit 93 mph a few times, his fastball was generally between 88-91 mph, and he threw his breaking pitches for strikes.

Third baseman Chone Figgins, out since Tuesday because of a bruised right wrist, felt discomfort when he tried to play catch Friday, and it’s appearing more likely he’ll be sidelined past Monday, the day he hoped to return. . . . First baseman Casey Kotchman’s sprained left middle finger and bruised left thumb improved Saturday, but, he said, “I won’t throw or swing a bat for a couple of days.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com