The Facts: The timetable for the return of Curtis, who underwent surgery for sports hernia Thursday, is a lot more optimistic than first thought. With no setbacks, Curtis could be back before the end of September.

Diehards Line:We'll note that Times staffer Bob Grotz does not cite a specific source (named or unnamed) to back his contention. But it's certainly worth noting because it would mean missing just three or four games instead of six or seven. We'll continue to watch for more on this one while advising against getting too excited in the meantime.