LOS ANGELES (AP) Slugging Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Shawn Green plans to sit out what could be a crucial game against the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 26 in observance of the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.

Dodgers senior vice president Derrick Hall said yesterday that Green told manager Jim Tracy of his plans a day earlier in Colorado.

"It is something that I have to do and something I am doing out of respect," Green said yesterday. "There aren"t too many Jewish players and to go out there and play would be really disrespectful."

The game in question is the Dodgers" final scheduled home game of the regular season.

"It is something I always felt I would take that day off and not play," Green said. "I am definitely not looking forward to missing a game, especially one against the Giants and with a few days left in the season."

Green"s plan to not play on the Jewish Day of Atonement was first reported in yesterday"s editions of The New York Times.

Green said it was the first time in his career he had to take the day off. In the past he said it had always fallen on an off-day or after the season.

"It is ironic that it happens on a day when we are in the middle of a pennant race," Green said.

Tracy was in agreement with the decision.

"There are two things that I am all about as a person and that is family and religion," Tracy said. "You don"t stand in the way of beliefs that people hold and are very true to and very strong with I won"t get in the way of that."