SCREWBALL

Autobiographical material which will be most appreciated by those who get turned on by the ""screwjie"" and, to a lesser extent, by the most rabid of Mets fans (the type that brings banners to the park). McGraw is an exuberant, effervescent ""flake"" who just happens to be the highest paid relief pitcher in baseball history ($100,000). You'll learn who taught him how to use chopsticks (Ron Swoboda); where the author went to school (Vallejo Junior High); and the name given to his specialty pitch by broadcasters in Montreal's Jarry Park (une balle tire-buchon). The chapter titles sound interesting enough -- ""Left-handers Anonymous""; ""Play It Again, Sister Norbert""; ""Faring the Future in My Willie Mays Suit"" -- but, like the projectile itself, it dips down after that and keeps going. Not a screw-up but just what the title says.