I wish they would not talk in such vague terms.

patch 1.17 was initially pushed back to mid-April, but after reexamination we’ve decided instead to divide the content and release it across two patches—1.17 and 1.17a.
A statement like that can mean a couple things:

1) At first they planned to release 1.17 in mid april, now they are splitting and releasing 1.17 right away, and 1.17a later. Basically assuming we will receive content faster this way.

2) They planned to release 1.17 mid april, and now will still do so, except it will come in 2 patches instead of the originally planned single patch.

Since he doesn't give a time frame for the 2 new patches, you cannot really assume they will come quicker. All you have to go on is that is was pushed back, and has now been reconsidered. Could be sooner, could be later. He doesn't really say except that we will have 1.17 before Easter. That's all we can count on and thats a full month away. God I hate ambiguity.