BOBBY SCALES GAINS CRED AT NEW SUBSTITUTE TEACHING GIG BY TELLING FIFTH-GRADERS HE KNOWS ALBERT PUJOLS

After Bobby Scales returned from his cup of coffee in the major leagues, students at his day job weren't impressed by a .242 average and 15 RBI. So Scales promised them autographed pictures of Albert Pujols, saying he is good friends with the Cardinals slugger.

"I'm not sure they believed me," said Scales. "But at least it got a few of them to take off their iPod for a minute."

Scales apparently then held the children's attention by telling tales of several "man dates" the two shared, complete with slides of a photoshopped Pujols mini-golfing, barbecuing and visiting several St. Louis-area attractions.

"Do you know Jim Hendry too?" said a student, who would only identify himself as 'Billy.' "Cause I got a message for him."