Theo Epstein is continuing with his adherence to the Bill Walsh philosophy that ten years with a team is long enough. Epstein announced last week that he was stepping down as the Chicago Cubs’ head of baseball operations after nine years with the organization. He did the same with the Boston Red Sox. But what most people in baseball want to know is what is next for Epstein?

Epstein himself says he is taking a year off from baseball after working nonstop 30 years. Rumors are that plenty of teams are chomping at the bit to get him into their organizations to work the same magic he did by getting rid of the curse of the Bambino and the billy goat. The Phillies, the Mets, the Indians all could use his wizardry at turning around a ball club. Or a host of teams who’ve never won a championship.

And while he’d probably do amazing work for any team out there, I want to make the case that he should have the BIG job. Commissioner of MLB. When Rob Manfred was selected, he was tasked with increasing pace of play, interest in the game, and growing the fan base. He’s done none of those things and anything he has tried to do has failed miserably. And I would say in the case of interest and growing the fan base, he’s caused more people to stay away. I mean if the commissioner is calling the World Series trophy a piece of metal, how is that encouraging young people to watch the game?

But it’s his handling of the Astros cheating scandal — or should I say lack of handling the cheating scandal — that could be pointed at for a decline in viewership and growth of the game.

Without holding any of the players responsible for their actions and allowing them to keep their World Series title, he destroyed the integrity of the game which was still trying to recover from the steroids scandal.

Epstein is respected, super driven, and loves challenges. He’s been named the best general manager of the decade for MLB and #3 in all sports. Fortune Magazine placed him at #1 on their list of the World’s 50 greatest leaders, for goodness sake, though he says he can’t even get his dog not to pee in the house. He instills confidence and energy, he knows how to talk to people, players like him, and he knows the game inside and out.

I don’t think the same can be said of Manfred.

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