Tippy Martinez

Done with the bad, on with the good. Thursday, while the Orioles were making Chicago their town, we at Connolly's batted around the worst trades in O's history. Apparently there was this one with the Houston Astros for a mustachioed, soft-jawed slugger. Maybe you know the one I am talking about. Well, you guys didn't like that one. Not at all. You didn't like a lot of them, including dealing two Hall of Famers, Eddie Murray and Frank Robinson, for two cases of used baseballs. But now we're on to the positive side of life - those times when the Orioles made thrifty trades (not to be confused with Syd Thrift trades)

Tippy Martinez was there to fire the starting gun, but Doug Walter and Michelle St. Laurent pitched complete-game, shutout victories yesterday in the sixth annual Oriole Advocates Home Run 8K.By the time the runners reached Key Highway, Walter had opened a block lead in the race from Oriole Park to the turnaround at the Fort McHenry bridge blockade and back. By the time he reached the Science Center on the return, his lead was two blocks, and he coasted to a 25-minute, 32-second victory.His closest competition was Bob Becker, who finished more than a minute later.

HEART WARMINGTake tea together on Valentine's Day at the 1840 House, 800 E. Lombard St. Food historian Sue Latini will bake teatime delicacies over an open hearth, including maids of honor (rich pastries filled with jam and topped with whipped cream), scones and English muffins at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday.Admission: $1.75 for adults, 75 cents for children 6 to 18. Children under 6 are admitted free. Information: 396-3279.BASBEALL MEMORABILAAdd to your baseball card collection and meet some of the men behind the winning stats.

New manager Davey Johnson and general manager Pat Gillick will be joined by more than a dozen current and former Orioles at the team's 1996 Winter Carnival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. next Saturday at Camden Yards.Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under, and are available through TicketMaster, or at the Orioles ticket office in advance or the day of the carnival. Proceeds benefit the Orioles Charitable Foundation. For more information, call (410) 685-9800.Throughout the day, there will be clubhouse tours, batting cages and speed pitching machines, play-by-play booth, trivia contests, baseball card dealers and family entertainment.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Sometimes, Jason Satre has a hard time concentrating when his team gets the lead.Give him some room to work with, and Satre's mind starts to wander.But Wednesday against the Binghamton Mets, Satre was focused. He gave up one hit over six innings, helping the Bowie Baysox to a 6-4 Eastern League victory at Binghamton Municipal Stadium before 2,706."I was placing my slider a little bit," Satre said. "Hitting the spots makes it a lot easier."The Baysox helped Satre from the start.

MIKE OQUISTCareer recordBroke into the majors with the Orioles in 1993 and has pitched as a starter and reliever. Attended the University of Arkansas and played in the 1987 and 1989 College World Series.Personal recordBorn in and resides in La Junta, Colo. Turned 27 on May 30. Is married to Lindi Rae Russell and has two sons, 9-month-old Dallas Russell and 2-year-old Braxton Michael. Earned 12 letters and captained the football, baseball and basketball teams at La Junta High, which former Oriole Tippy Martinez also graduated from.

HUMOR COLUMNIST Art Buchwald is the keynote speaker at an evening lecture for alumni and friends of Sheppard Pratt at the Peabody Conservatory Auditorium Friday night. . . .The Rev. Jesse Jackson made a surprise appearance at "Septemberfest," held by the Mid-Town Churches Community Association last Sunday afternoon on the grounds of Friends school. Jackson charmed all when he delivered an eloquent speech on homelessness.QUICK TAKES: Baltimore biz whiz Ted Herget will be officially installed as chairman of the board of directors of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce tomorrow at Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn. . . . Hot-air balloon rides, a story-telling ceremony by John Unitas and Tom Matte, music by Zim Zemarel and loads of other stuff including wonderful food, of course, are all being planned for the 50th anniversary of Peerce's Plantation Oct. 17. . . . Philip Evans, editor and publisher of the Annapolitan, is hosting a reception for veteran newsman (and sailor)

A blast of cool air and a cold drink greeted guests inside the Chestnut Ridge Country Club clubhouse -- a welcome reward for spending a hot day on the course competing in the "Celebrity Golf Classic for Leukemia," benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Maryland Chapter. Golfers munched on chicken wings, wontons and meatballs, while mingling with local sports celebrities who had also played in the tournament. But it was the event's honorary chairman -- Henry J. Knott Jr., who had died the previous week of the disease -- who received the evening's major tribute.

I was saddened to read of Towson State University's move to eliminate the mens' soccer and baseball programs ("University plans to cut baseball and men's soccer," Oct. 7). Sure, my alma mater is in the middle of a major growth spurt, but the decision to discontinue these sports just reeks of a skewed playing surface. The effort to get the university to reconsider their decision is gaining momentum. At a recent alumni baseball game, more than 100 former Towson baseball players attended, including Casper Wells, who currently plays major league baseball for the Seattle Mariners.

BaseballOrioles -- Signed 2B Jecen Martinez, the son of former P Tippy Martinez.Chicago White Sox -- Placed SS Craig Grebeck on the 15-day DL. Recalled IF Shawn Jeter from Triple-A Vancouver.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Placed P Tom Candiotti on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Kip Gross from Triple-A Albuquerque.Montreal Expos -- Announced that P Mike LaCoss, 36, released in July 1991 by the San Francisco Giants, will begin pitching this week with Triple-A Indianapolis.Oakland Athletics -- Activated 2B Lance Blankenship from the 15-day DL. Designated P Gene Nelson for assignment.