LONG BEACH (AP) - This has been quite an interesting year in Long Beach. Despite coming off the franchise's second Weaver Championship and the team being in first place for much of the first half of the season, management decided it was time to reshape the team. In the span of four months, the team has moved such Lobster mainstays as P Mike Castro, P Jeffery DAmico, RF Josh Homme, 1b Ron Wright, and most recently SS Ed Santos.

Fans in Long Beach have shown extreme patience in managements' roster re-shaping this season. Recently, the team held a rare mid-year fanfest at the Lobster Tank and owner Ken Paplanus offered any fan their money back for season tickets bought if they were at all unhappy. Not one fan took them up on the offer. In fact, a new 500 fans signed up on the teams season ticket waiting list.

In a 1-1 interview at the fan-fest, Ken Paplanus sat down and explained the team's situation this season.

"We are in this for the long-haul as we have said all along. We made some real tough decisions as this season has unfolded. As we entered the season, we had every intention of doing what we could to defend our 2015 crown. Byron (GM Russell) had the green light to trade our #1 pick and get Percibal and Wood and Wilson. Our organization had a rebuilding plan in place when the event arose, but we entered the season not ready to execute on that. Our veteran core has had an incredible Weaver run in the Roehm, and so this was what we were going to do.

"However, as the season began to unfold, it was clear that the team did not have the same magic as they did in 2015. We met as an organization and tried to decide if we had the resources to enhance the current roster as we have done many times during this great run. In the end, it was decided that given the age of our core, the current Weaver market, the value these guys had on that market at this time, and our roster resources at that time that we needed to get younger and deeper for the future and follow through on rebuilding the roster. Castro and company deserved to finish their careers chasing more championships, and so I authorized management to seek out deals.

"I want to make one thing clear. This was NOT a fire sale. The fact we were in 1st place alot this season is a combination of a weakened Roehm division and the great effort of the newer and older players and our manager and coaches. If we had diverted from our plan as we had a couple times before, we would have hurt this teams long term outlook. So, I am pleased with our new group of younger players as well as the depth in our AAA and low minors. We have a very good young new staff and prospects for pitching coach Christy Matthewson to work with, and I am really looking forward to seeing the growth of our everyday prospects."

Reports have come out of Long Beach that special tributes have been planned for next season for several of the key ex-Lobsters. In addition, a brand new Lobster Hall of Fame will be built next to the Lobster Tank and its first members announced opening day next season. Reports also say that P Russ Ford is not currently on the market, though inside sourced have confirmed he is a bit frustrated at all the turn over this season. Also, GM Russell and Manager Harris' jobs appear safe for the time being.

"Long term, I think we are well on our well on our way to laying the seeds for a great second Lobster Dynasty. There is still ALOT to work to be done before that can be a reality, but these painful moves have accelerated the reshaping process of our roster, and I think fans will really enjoy watching these guys grow upon the field. Our fans know we will do what it takes when we have to. I want to thank the fans for all their support and I know everyone will enjoy watching this second generation of Lobsters make the city proud. They have some lofty goals to try to reach, but we would not have it any other way."