Transcript: Mayor Adams Appears Live on the YES Network

March 30, 2023

Michael Kay: So we go from Bob Lorenz, who really is the mayor of the pre and post game to something even bigger, the mayor of the greatest city in the world, New York City, and that is the Honorable Eric Adams. Mr. Mayor, so good to see you.

Mayor Eric Adams: I am so excited. When you think about it, the first inning, the home run by Aaron Judge. I keep telling people this is my Aaron Judge year, so we're going to knock it out the park like him.

Kay: Gleyber Torres hit a home run earlier, a two run shot. He fouls that one off. You know what? I'm in and out of the city throughout the week and I see traffic again. It seems like the city is really coming back.

Mayor Adams: It is. And we are so resilient and people don't realize the connectivity with sports and our lives. I think about during 2001 after 9/11 and that amazing hit by Mike Piazza just really lifted our spirits. This is a resilient city and I think the Yankees personify that. Traffic comes back. I never thought I'd be so happy to see crowded parkways again.

Kay: Absolutely, absolutely. And then you look at this ballpark and it seems like we're all all the way back after that. Horrific two years.

Mayor Adams: Yes, it was. It made a major impact on our businesses, our sports team. There was a lot of discussions on when we were going to hit the field again, but as you see, this is a packed park, a nice day to watch Yankees baseball. I'm looking forward to a great season. This is the year for us.

Kay: 2-2 count on Gleyber Torres. Yankees lead 3-0. Pitch outside. Now, do you have to be political and root for everybody or do you have a team that you really like?

Mayor Adams: Well, I grew up with the Mets and standing next to this great pitcher here, brother Cone and how he has played on both teams, and really my son keeps a poster of you in his room. But it's New York. As long as it has an NY on it, I'll be happy.

Kay: 3-2 to Gleyber, that one is fouled back, still 3 and 2. Talking with Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City. Is there a little bit of a respite when you come to an event like this that you don't have to be worried about everything or are you constantly looking at your phone and seeing what's going on in the city?

Mayor Adams: People say that being the mayor of the city's the second hardest job in America, and we was just joking about how many professional players don't want to play here because of the pressure, but the rewards are great and it's exciting. But it is every day, all day. Trust me, you don't get a break here. This is the big leagues and you understand that when you took the job.

Kay: Well, Logan Webb ends up walking Gleyber Torres to start off the bottom of the seventh inning. Quickly Gabe Kapler out of the dugout. He's going to take the ball from his starter and really, Logan Webb was amazing, David. He pitched very, very well.
David Cone: He really did. Other than the two home run balls, he matched Garrett Cole step for step and strikeout for strikeout for that matter. He is not noted as a strikeout pitcher, but he had it working today.

Kay: So he departs. We're still going to stay here and we'll talk with the mayor. This is one of the toughest jobs in the world, being the head of this city.

Mayor Adams: Yes.

Kay: What's the fun part?

Mayor Adams: This. And the diversity of this city, this place here, our secret weapon is our diversity. And when you look out here at the Yankee park, you see different ethnic groups, different cultures, and how they come together to root for the team. And so no matter the intramural season, when we put on the jersey of New York City, we are all on the same team. We're going to win together. We in this together. That was part of our We Love NYC campaign. We want to remind people of why we love this city so much.
And I think when you come here at the ballpark and you're able to interact with folks and generations, dads have brought their sons to Yankee games for so long. You sit there and you talk to your child and you teach them about the challenges of playing the game of life. And it's the same. You take the mound, there's some days you're going to walk the batter, you're going to strike them out. There's some days you're going to cheer and you're going to be jeered. But that's part of life and it's a lot to learn here on this field.

Kay: Now the Yankees have a young man playing shortstop today. His dream was to play shorts up for the New York Yankees. Anthony Volpe. You were a guy who was a policeman in New York City. Was it a dream to be the mayor?

Mayor Adams: Oh, without a doubt. People joke with me now, 30 years ago when I said January 1st, 2022, I was going to be the mayor, and every year I would remind people. And it took a long time before they realized I wasn't on medication.

Kay: Is it everything you thought it would be or is it different?

Mayor Adams: Some. When you imagine how you could help people with their problems and you have the power to make your agencies really address the issues people are facing, particularly coming out of September 11th, we're dealing with some real issues with our young people. And that's why sports is so important again. Our children have to get put down the Gameboy and get in the game. Open our fields. We have a new sports and wellness czar who's focusing on how do we use sports to build that energy again? I grew up little league, football, we are not doing that much anymore. And so as the mayor I'm able to look at those creative ways, take what I learned to foster who I am and help young people really be a part of it as well.

Kay: You're listening to Mayor Adams of New York City, joining us in the booth here on opening day at Yankee Stadium. Yankees lead 3-0, bottom of the seventh inning. Brebbia is the new pitcher. John Brebbia, in relief of Logan Webb. Runner at first base for the Yankees. Nobody out. And here's Oswaldo Cabrera at the plate, and he's been up twice and struck out each time. Brebbia says he cannot hear the pitchcom, so he steps back. And that is up to last year as whether to give them a reprieve on the pitch timer and he looks like he did.

John Flaherty: He did, but the clock is ticking. So nonetheless, only so much is allowed.

Kay: Fouled back. Now as the mayor, you get a chance to go wherever you want to go. So how about taking the three of us to dinner one night after a night game? That would be cool.

Mayor Adams: Well, I'm known for enjoying the night life.

Kay: I've heard that. You can get us into a club or two. David used to be able to do that when he was ...

Flaherty: Yeah, we're okay with David I think. He'll get us into some spots.

Mayor Adams: He still can. Yeah.

Cone: How long are those keys to the city?

Kay: He tried it in every door too. 3-0 Yankees. Each team with four hits. Opening day. First of 162 and the Yankees hope many more than that into October. So Brebbia sets, and pitch. 1-2. Big crowd here at the stadium on a sun splashed day. Chilly, but not a cloud in the sky. Fouled away. Now how much will it mean, Mr. Mayor, that every single team in this area looks like it is going to make the playoffs? What does that mean for the city economy?

Mayor Adams: It means a lot. Not only does it energize the city, but it also helps the economy. When you make the playoffs, it brings millions of dollars into the city with tourism and spending.

Kay: Knicks are going, Rangers are going, Mets look good. Yankees look good. I don't know if you care about the Giants or the Jets, but they look good.

Mayor Adams: We think about that year, I think it was the '69, '68, '69 where we were winning those championships. It's time to come back.

Kay: Runner goes. Swing and a miss. He goes down on strikes, a stolen base for Torres. This will be the first time since '94 that every single team in the area would make the playoffs. Devils, Islanders, the whole group.

Mayor Adams: So important. It's a real boost for the economy. It really sends a message of the recovery. We've recovered so well. 99 percent of the jobs we lost pre-pandemic, they have returned. We're seeing our streets, our subways becoming safer. This is just so important as part of the recovery. Because the way goes New York goes the entire country.

Kay: Trevino raps on the left field. It is a base hit. They will hold Torres at third. So first and third with one man out and that'll bring up Volpe. Well, David and John, now Volpe can make his mark on this game.

Flaherty: Well, he is already made his mark with the fans, right? They love him already. He comes through with a one out base hit drive in another insurance run, this place is going to welcome him with open arms.

Kay: So far today a walk, a stolen base and a ground ball to third. So the Giants bring the infield in. First and third, one man out. And the pitch. And there's a strike upstairs.

Cone: I think the battle for a kid like this is just to continue to trust the process, get good at bats, see every pitch.

Mayor Adams: So funny you use that term. I tell the team all the time, trust the process. Trust the process.

Cone: It's easy to get anxious right now. A kid, rookie, 21-years old, in the batter's box, get a little jumpy, swing at bad pitches, he has not done that.

Kay: 2-1. 2-2. Now, Wade has moved from first to left field with the pinch-hitting in the top of the inning. Wisely takes over in center, and JD Davis is the new first baseman. You see Volpe swing through that second strike on SuperShot. First and third, infield in, one man out, bottom of the seventh, 3-0, Yanks.
Swing and a miss, and Volpe down on strikes. Two away.

Mayor Adams: How much pressure is there, a 21-year old on the field, playing on a big stage like here?

Cone: It's tremendous pressure. It's the first time for him to do it. See there, a good fastball right on by. Even when he swings and misses though, it's a good swing. That's what Aaron Boone had talked about with Volpe is that he still gets off good swings even though he struck out there in a big spot. The pressure's tremendous for especially a local kid.

Kay: Here's LeMahieu with three strikeouts in three at-bats. Now the infield backs up with two outs, first and third. Yankees lead 3-0, Brebbia on in relief of Logan Webb. Line drive, it's a base hit to left field. Torres scores, Trevino moves to second. It's an RBI single for LeMahieu and the Yankees lead 4-0.

Flaherty: Well, very unlike DJ LeMahieu to have three strikeouts in a game, but he comes through with that big two-out RBI base hit, and doesn't waste any time. The fastball on the inner half, drills it to left field. The Yankees add on.

Kay: Now, I know everything in government sometimes takes a while to plan out, you guys already planning for a ticker tape parade?

Mayor Adams: Already mapped it out. Already mapped it out.

Cone: You look good in a convertible, driving through the Canyon of Heroes.

Kay: Here's Judge.

Mayor Adams: Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, I met with him today, he talks about during his run as mayor he had a couple of rings. He said the previous mayor has none. I cannot leave without any rings.

Kay: A 1-0. 1-1. It's 4-0 Yankees. Judge had a home run in the first inning. After 62 last year, he gets right back to it in his first at bat. He's one for three with two strikeouts. That just missed the outside corner. 2-1.
Glad the mayor of our great city, Eric Adams, joining us here in the booth here in the bottom of the seventh. 2-2.

Mayor Adams: It's always good having the boys of summer back. It's just the beginning of the year and a lot of fun. We want to have a good, safe summer and just really enjoy what the city has to offer.

Kay: Two balls, two strikes, two outs, two on. Yankees up by four. Broken back looper into shallow center, it will duck in for a base hit! Trevino scores! LeMahieu moves to third. It's an RBI broken-bat single for Judge. The Yankees lead 5-0!

Flaherty: Well, they say good hitters will get jammed when they're waiting for the ball to travel. Well off the plate, inside, but Aaron Judge so big and strong, he fights it off. That's going to find some grass in center field. Again, another two-out base hit to add on for the New York Yankees. Another look at that broken back on SuperShot.

Kay: The pitching coach, Andrew Bailey will go out and talk with Brebbia. The Yankees had three runs coming into this inning, now they have two so far. Take a look at the exit velocity presented by Spectrum. This is the exit velo on Judge's home run, 109.3 miles per hour. That was in the first inning. It traveled 422 feet. The first of, well, we'll see how many this year. Last year, 62 home runs, the new American League record.

Mayor Adams: It's amazing the technology nowadays to look at everything, the distance, how far.

Cone: It's like cross-town traffic, right? That's not fun?

Kay: Here's Anthony Rizzo. Yankees with seven hits and five runs. First and third, two men out.
We measure everything Mr. Mayor. We had the entrance velocity of you coming in here. There's a strike. 1-1 on Rizzo.

Mayor Adams: It's interesting with the game clock, the timing clock, all of these new entries as the game continues to evolve.

Kay: Swing and a miss. Judge with a little bit of a deke there at first. I don't know if he was really going and stopped or if that was just a bluff. He's a threat on the bases. Big man but he runs well.

Cone: Oh, there's a neat little trick there. The old tie your shoe and restart the clock.

Kay: 1-2. Fouled away.

Mayor Adams: Is it a big difference playing on the grass compared to artificial turf?

Cone: Yes, huge difference. Both in terms of the radiant of the heat. If it's a hot day, you really on turf, you really did feel that. I think most of the artificial turfs now are regulated to indoor facilities or sort of domes that are two-way hybrid facilities. But yes, there is a big difference. The bounce of the ball.

Kay: 1-2. Swing and a miss. That'll do it. Mr. Mayor…

Mayor Adams: Yes?

Kay: Thrilled to have you here.

Mayor Adams: Nice to see you.

Cone: Yeah.

Kay: Open invite, whenever you want to come in.

Mayor Adams: I'm going to make sure I take you guys out to a good restaurant.

Kay: Let's do it. Let's do it. After a night game, let's make it happen. We go to the eighth.