Depending on the lineup,
you either sink or swim

In the batter’s box
By Matt Godfrey

The better part of the last 12 years of my life has been spent around the sport of rowing. I rowed for eight years, coached for one, and have spent the last three telling myself that I would be getting back to it "once I find the time."
Regardless of whether I do get back on the water, I have been realizing how much of my life has been influenced by the experiences and lessons that I learned from the sport.
I also think a lot of these lessons can be applied to the current Phillies season, and every season for that matter.
Consider, for example, the similarities between a good batting order and a good boat lineup. It’s easy for people to think that, for a boat’s lineup, you just throw eight guys together and send them on their way.
But the reality is that a good lineup puts the best two all-around rowers in the front, their strongest four (or engine room) in the middle, and the remaining two in the back.
Sound familiar?
If you break down a batting order, assuming the pitcher to be a non-factor when it comes to hitting, that same formula should apply.
So the arguments that keep arising because of the power that shortstop Jimmy Rollins is providing at the top of the Phils’ lineup are understandable. But you have to look at the lineup as a whole when deciding where everyone goes.
Rollins could hit in the "engine room" of the order, but who would fill his spot at the top of the lineup?
Centerfielder Aaron Rowand could . . . but he is also swinging one of the hottest bats in baseball right now.
Rollins is hitting in the leadoff spot because he is one of the best all-around hitters in this team’s lineup. His power is a bonus.
Another lesson I learned, both as a coach and as a rower, is that a boat is only going to be as strong as its weakest rower.
In both sports you can get to the finish line with a weak part . . . you may even beat a few other teams . . . but you won’t be beating anybody that is truly good.
Nothing could be truer about a baseball team.
And the Phillies, with their depleted bullpen, are proving that axiom in proper fashion.
This past weekend the Phils went into San Francisco for a four-game series against big bad Barry Bonds and the Giants.
Already hampered by what is perceived to be a weak bullpen, the Phils had to place closer Tom Gordon and setup man Ryan Madson on the disabled list because of nagging injuries.
It’s easy to think that getting those two out of as many games as possible just might be a blessing in disguise, but what is left isn’t so attractive.
Now they have to rely on newly anointed closer Brett Myers, who many think is actually the closer of the future, with Geoff Geary and Antonio Alfonseca as the only two "proven" relievers to get the ball to him.
The bullpen is a scary thought if the starters don’t go seven-plus innings and eliminate the need for a long reliever.
The same idea can be applied to the batting order and Ryan Howard.
You know what he can do.
Everyone interested in baseball knows what he did last year.
It’s only a matter of time before he’ll step up and get comfortable again at the plate.
Chase Utley has already come out of his funk, and once Howard follows suit, this lineup should put up some nasty numbers.
There is one final lesson that I gained from rowing, a lesson I feel can really help this team: You don’t necessarily have to be better than the other team, you just have to make them think you are.
You get out in front of your opponents, don’t lose an inch, and soon they’ll tend to start giving up.
The Phils need some swagger. They need to penetrate the heads of these other teams and give the impression they’re unstoppable.
One can hope, anyway. ••
Columnist Matt Godfrey can be reached at 215-354-3113 or mgodfrey@phillynews.com