"Methinks it was 1995 when we first used the words "apathy" and "Blue Jays" in the same sentence.

And we used it in 2000, again in 2009 and probably could have used it many more seasons.

The words did not go together Monday as the three wise men — president Paul Beeston, general manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager John Farrell — sat atop the Jays dugout, along with MC Buck Martinez, at the eighth annual state of the union address at Rogers Centre.

Roughly 800 season-ticket holders showed passion, concern, knowledge, anger and frustration over an off-season which saw the Jays pass on Prince Fielder and bid on but not gain the services of Japanese free agent Yu Darvish.

The Jays said they would not go past their self-imposed limit of five years. Fielder signed for nine years with the Detroit Tigers.

There were great questions and dopey questions. In other words, it was like a daily Farrell press briefing."