PANAMA CITY, Panama — Paying attention to details played a big part in Mariano Rivera’s pitching success.
Thursday at Rod Carew Stadium the retired Rivera was consumed with details as he toured the venue where the Yankees and Marlins will play exhibition games Saturday and Sunday.
Rivera checked out the mound; the bullpens, where he suggested clay around the plates to replace the loose gravel and sand; was concerned about clubhouse security; requested additional electrical outlets in the trainers’ room; made his way to the field seats to make sure they were high enough; and visited the batting cage.
“This is important to me,’’ Rivera told The Post after a second stint examining the mound. Rivera will be honored during the weekend but feels a responsibility to everybody participating and attending.
“Just because I am not playing I don’t want this thing to not do well,” he said.
After the tour of the field and facilities was completed, Rivera went to inspect the parking lot in center field to make sure traffic flowed better than two years ago, when a WBC crowd needed two hours to get out.
Jennifer Swindal will represent the Steinbrenner family. Ex-husband Steve also will be on hand, as will Yankees president Randy Levine.