Cliff Floyd and Trever Miller didn't have the biggest stats.

   Cliff Floyd and Trever Miller were not the all-stars.

   But Cliff Floyd and Trever Miller may have been the glue that kept this young team together through the tough and great times.

   The Rays have made so many brilliant moves over the last year, that they have earned the benefit of the doubt.  Yet, I truly hated to see the Rays decline the rights to Floyd and Miller.

   Both gave the Rays stability both on and off the field.  Both were standup teammates.  Both showed the kids how to embrace roles.

   When BJ Upton was benched for not hustling, it was Floyd that provided council.  You saw what Upton could do in postseason, Floyd helped coax that out of him.

    And here's hoping that someday, everybody gets the opportunity to talk baseball with Floyd.  It is everything you thought it would be in picking the brain of a major leaguer.  No stock answers.  Just honesty. 

    The same with Miller.  If he pitched, I always tried to get his reaction because his thoughts put everything into perspective.  And he made 68 appearances for the Rays.  Who now fills that role?

    I know with success that addition can come through subtraction.  Yet, the Rays will miss these two more than they will ever know.

    Al Keck