re: Bat corking and many other abuses...
I think not
The unions in MLB and the NBA have supreme power
In the NFL they do not
The NFL has meaningful drug testing and the ability to cut a player
So coaches can have real influence and control over their millionaire players
MLB does not have any meaningful control except the ability to bench a player, let him sit out under full pay, Whoopie
Root cause for the union superpowers - owner's greed & bad management decisions
The Steinbrenners and wannabes who put selfish interests ahead of the product
Result, MLB and the NBA face declining markets relative to the NFLs growing market