Judgement call ?

[Robmoz]

Originally posted by WeekendRef
...arms straight up in the air . Second baseman throws the ball straight into his bicep....

To be hit in the bicep sounds like it did not matter if the arms were straight up in the air. I might think that if the ball hit the hands there may be a case for the auto out call. Arguably, the sliding mechanics (you did say R1 slid into the bag) would seem normal to raise arms as the slide is being executed. Perhaps it is one of those HTBT situations.

In any event, it is a judgement call by BU, he called it out so it is out. I like the fact that a conference among the PU and BU took place and the call stood. That tells me that the crew communicates.