Clarification needed about the Quality Start stat?

Question

In baseball, a quality start is defined as a pitcher going 6 or more innings while giving up no more than three runs. There are two scenarios that I'd like clarified:
1) Does it only count once the pitcher leaves the game? I mean, let's say a pitcher goes 7 innings giving up two runs, but then at the start of the 8th, gives up two more. Does it count because he made it six innings to start?
2) Let's say a pitcher throws a complete game and gives up four runs (i know that it's improbable, but work with me). He'd have a lower ERA than 6 innings and 3 runs, and it would seem like a much better start to me. Would that count?

Thanks!!

Answer 1

I see both scenerios as a quality start. The definition for a quality start is 6 or more innings, and giving up no more than 3 runs. The deeper into a game a pitcher goes, the higher quality the start in in my opinion. The longer a pitcher last in a start, and relinquishing very few runs as in the four you said, gave his team more than enough chance to win the game, and at the same time rested the teams bull pen. Scenerio 1 is a quality start.

Scenerio 2 is a complete game, with only four runs allowed in the game again gave his team more than a chance to win the game. The longer a pitcher last, and the fewer runs scored on that pitcher, the higher quality his start is.

Answer 2

The quality start system was started by a sports writer in 1992 to try to put some meaning as to a pitchers performance. The main factor to qualify for a quality start is to pitch six innings and not to give up more than three runs. Take a look at my source, it might help.

Answer 3

A lot of sports mediums (i.e. ESPN) have been tracking quality starts (QS) fervently. However, the biggest argument with the QS is that a pitcher could possibly throw 6 innings and allow 3 runs. That's an ERA of 4.50... not very good.