Rookies from the minors are not owed a spot, no one is filling for any one , except on the occasion a veteran is on IL and the spot is temporarily filled.
The rookies earn their spot, at this point Gordon and all the rest have earned their place on the field IF they play, NO rookie is taking any thing from any one.
If they do not play , then it is because management thinks some one else should be there, even if we think that is not right.