Of course you did not tell how many sets on the BB rows or what other exercises (and how they are placed in your workout) you might do for the back. Or how you do a BB row and how many times a week. If the bar is to the chest area, than more stress can be felt on the lower back. To the gut area, less stress.
All things being equal, steady progress should be achieved in reps or weight increases in just about every workout, if proper recovery time is allowed. Should not matter which grip is used or how the BB row is preformed, you should progress. BB rows are one of the must do movements, as the DL/SLDL are, for total back mass. Do the BB row first in the workout. And also use the close curl grip style for awhile, where the bar hits the lower abs. Hold for a second or two, and lower. Keeping the bar near the legs at all times during the lift. You should never need straps with rows unless you are doing 400 partial rows, which I kind of doubt you are doing. Rows also build the grip.
One of the more productive version of BB row's is the three positioned grip in a workout. 1)A wide grip,trying to come close as you can to the inside collars, to touch the upper chest. 2)Medium grip, bring the bar into the lower chest/ab area. 3) close curl grip, bringing the bar well into the lower abs. Might try for 2 or 3 sets of each as a total lat workout.
If all else fails than jump to doing DB row, a very effective exercise. Good Luck.
