I believe the timeframe was actually 4–6 weeks. But there is a big difference between being able to walk without a limp in a walking boot and having the lateral movement to play the shortstop position effectively. She has been on crutches and in a boot since the week before the South Carolina series. You can surmise from that timeline that she has not taken a ground ball or swung a bat since then. Probably has not been able to do any conditioning work, either.
I think it would be difficult to ask anyone who has not fielded a ball or swung a bat in almost 6 weeks to be able to come back, not experience a setback with the injury, and knock off the rust enough to take a starting position at the most important time of the year. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I don’t anticipate that happening, particularly if there is any minor setback in her recovery once she is out of the boot and back playing.
I don’t understand the “Karen’s favorites” comment. Nobody at this level plays favorites. People can make that accusation on message boards, but no Coach hampers their team’s performance and chance of winning a championship to play somebody that they like better than somebody else. Just doesn’t happen. Did Karen hype her at the beginning of the season? Absolutely. So did every other person that watched her on the field in fall ball and at the start of practice. She didn’t hit nearly as well as anticipated, but nobody else was stepping up to take that spot in the lineup at the time, either.