Faith Comes First to Green

If the Dodgers earn the National League wild-card berth, they might be without right fielder Shawn Green for a playoff game because of his religious beliefs.

Green, who is Jewish, probably would not play in Game 5 of the division series Oct. 5 in observance of Yom Kippur -- the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

The two-time All-Star also sat out a game in September of 2001 while the Dodgers were battling for a playoff spot, and Green discussed the potential playoff situation Wednesday with Manager Jim Tracy.

Of course, the Dodgers haven’t qualified for the playoffs.

The division series is a best-of-five format, so Game 5 might not be necessary. There’s also a chance the game would start before sundown wherever it is played, enabling Green to participate and still observe the holy day.

Green and the Dodgers, however, are planning ahead.

“It’s something that I’m giving a lot of thought to because it’s an important decision,” said Green, who would join Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax as the only Dodgers to sit out a postseason game because of their religious beliefs.

“I knew it [Yom Kippur] was going to be after the season, so I would have to make a decision. I figured it would be a good problem to have because that would mean we’re in the playoffs.”

Koufax skipped a start in the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins because of the holiday.

Although Green and Koufax are close, Green said he did not plan to seek Koufax’s counsel on the situation.

“It’s a personal decision; you can’t really look to other people for the answers,” he said. “Obviously, there are a lot of things that go into it, but everybody’s faith is something that they have to deal with.

“I’m sure that no matter what I do, there will be some people that don’t approve. That’s just the way it is.”

The Dodgers would support Green if he decided to sit out.

“If the situation came up, and Greenie had to choose his faith over playing in a baseball game, his faith comes first,” center fielder Dave Roberts said. “That’s the choice that he’s made throughout his career, and I understand that.”

If the team moves into the wild-card lead, Dodger officials plan to lobby the commissioner’s office to schedule Game 5 of the division series to start as early as possible. And General Manager Dan Evans has an even better solution.

“We’ll just try to win it in four games,” Evans said. “But the schedule hasn’t come out, and more importantly, we haven’t been invited to the dance yet.”

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Roberts was named the Dodgers’ recipient of this year’s Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing players for their charitable efforts.

“It’s always important to give back to the community,” the leadoff batter said. “When good things have happened for you and you’re in the position to help other people, that’s what you should do.”

Roberts is among players from every team in competition for the national award, which will be announced at the World Series.

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Pitcher Andy Ashby will undergo reconstructive elbow surgery Sept. 29. Team physician Frank Jobe will perform the procedure at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Culver City.... The Dodgers plan to unveil their 2004 schedule on a calendar given to fans Sunday before the final regular-season game at Dodger Stadium.