Mere hours after the Post’s Joel Sherman raised the spectre of Fred & Jeff Wilpon having lost so much money in Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme that signing Eric Hinske wasn’t economically viable (as opposed to being a lousy idea purely for baseball reasons), SNY.TV issued the following press release (link swiped from Repoz and Baseball Think Factory). How long before Citi Field’s parking lot is turned into an open-air flea market?

USCOINS.com, an official New York Mets partner, is hosting a major two-day gold-buying event at Citi Field. On Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., you will have the opportunity to enter and view the stadium from the Modell Clubhouse, take pictures, meet former Mets players, get a free photo and autograph and sell your unwanted gold items at today’s high prices. Entrance will be through the Bullpen Gate located along 126th Street.

On Saturday, Mookie Wilson (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Ed Kranepool, Ron Swoboda, George Foster (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) will be on hand, and on Sunday, Darryl Strawberry (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) will be available to all sellers. USCOINS.com is paying the highest prices for your gold coins, silver, gold jewelry, rare coins, currency, diamonds, sterling silver, entire collections, Rolex Replica and other vintage watches and Tiffany items.

Don’t miss this opportunity to sell your valuables and meet the Mets. To be admitted, you must have at least $300 in merchandise to sell. Screeners at the Bullpen Gate will assess your merchandise.

Foster’s appearance is appropriate enough seeing as he’s no stranger to flogging unwanted jewlery.