There is a new force in the Cardinals’ lineup. His demeanor? Surly and intimidating. His appearance? Rugged and slightly prehistoric. His name? Jason LaRue.

In the revolving door that is the Cardinals back up catcher position, Jason LaRue appeared to be the worst in recent memory. On May 10th he had exactly 2 hits on the season and was batting a paltry .067 with no extra base knocks. Then the weather got hot, and so did LaRue. The Cardinal backstop is hitting .350 in June with 3 homeruns and 10 RBI, including the dinger, triple (that’s right I said triple) and 4 ribbies he racked up on Sunday to help dispatch the Kansas City Royals. Who says the “Hot Weather, Hot Bats” theory only applies to Troy Glaus?

Regardless, LaRue’s emergence has been timely. After starting catcher Yadier Molina was smoked in the head, by the knee of Eric Bruntlett, in a collision at the plate against the Phillies, LaRue stepped it up. With Yadi on the shelf due to concussion-related symptoms the Birds needed someone to pick up the slack. No one thought LaRue was the answer, but he proved everyone wrong… getting it done at the plate and behind it.

With his long locks, menacing facial hair and hulkish, stocky frame, it’s easy to picture LaRue in animal skin, dragging a club with an unconscious woman slung over his shoulder. Or perhaps decked out in camo, creeping through the woods waiting to kill something. Easier than it is to picture him hitting .350 over an entire month anyway. His disheveled caveman-like appearance not withstanding, he has been a bright spot for the Cardinals lately when it seemed like they were doomed to slide out of the playoff race due to injuries.

LaRue will obviously never replace Molina as the organization’s starting catcher, but if he continues to hit, call a good game and play hard nosed defense you can bet that Tony LaRussa will find a way to get him into the lineup. He might even get a contract this winter to stick around STL for another season. Something that has been difficult for the likes of Einar Diaz, Chris Widger, Gary Bennett and Cody McKay (who I hear is now a bartender at Senior Frog’s).

So here’s to Jason LaRue’s surprising offensive eruption and his contribution to keeping this team in playoff contention. With a 2 game lead in the Wild Card race and only 2 ½ back of the Chicago Cubs for the Central Division lead, this team has a legit shot of playing baseball in October. Thanks, in part, to Jason LaRue… and his club.

The caveman cometh, and he might sticketh around.