Reaction a Surprise to Green

SAN FRANCISCO â€”  Shawn Green realized there would be interest in how he decided to observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

But the first baseman never expected to ignite a nationwide religious debate, which he did in deciding to play despite the holiday Friday against the San Francisco Giants at SBC Park.

“It’s a lot bigger reaction than I anticipated,� Green said. “I really didn’t read the papers or watch the news, but I’ve heard from friends and family. Dave Roberts said it was a big topic in Boston, and a friend of mine in Texas said it was a big topic.

“Another friend said that his daughter’s sixth-grade class was talking about it in social studies. It’s like, ‘Wow!’ It’s obviously not my intention to be a big topic of conversation, but I understand why it’s such a debatable and controversial subject. People have different views and want to talk about it.�

Although the games Friday and Saturday fall within the Jewish Day of Atonement, which started at sundown Friday and ends at sundown today, Green decided to sit out only the second game of the three-game showdown between the National League West’s top two teams.

There has been support in the Jewish community for Green -- who sat out a game in September 2001 while the Dodgers were battling for a playoff spot -- but it has not been universal.

Some conservative rabbis have criticized Green’s decision, saying he should not have played in either game because of the importance of the holiday. Moreover, some are disappointed because they believe Green tried to find a compromise solution.

Green said he is unfazed by the criticism.

“I don’t see it as a compromise,� he said. “It’s the most consistent way for me to observe the holiday with my beliefs. Especially with this holiday, everyone has different ways of observing it.

“For me, this is definitely the most appropriate way. There’s no black-and-white answer to it. It’s a personal thing. I feel good about it ... but I didn’t want to be in the middle of a religious debate. I’ll look forward to next week when it’s all gone.�

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Rookie Edwin Jackson and erratic left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii are scheduled to start Monday and Tuesday, respectively, against the Colorado Rockies in the first two games of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Jackson pitched 4 2/3 innings last Sunday against the Rockies and Ishii worked 4 2/3 innings Thursday against the San Diego Padres.

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Wilson Alvarez (hip pain) probably won’t rejoin the rotation for the remainder of the season. The Dodgers plan for the left-hander to work out of the bullpen once he’s cleared to pitch.